1 Chronicles 4:1-10 ~ Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me,

1 Chronicles 4:1-10 ~ English Standard Version

The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. 3 These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, 4 and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. 5 Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah; 6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8 Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum. 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 


The Word of God is living and active, I remembered the Prayer of Jabez as "so I might not have pain." Not that he would be kept from evil. I have heard JL Packard, one of the most influential evangelicals in North America, who studied under CS Lewis and helped bring us the English Standard Version of the Bible. Packer served as General Editor of the English Standard Version, an Evangelical revision of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, and Theological Editor of the Study Bible version. I tend to believe he had this correctly!

We recently looked at the Prophets of the Bible and what attribute of God drew them to HIM. And Prophets have stories. They have historical placement, hometowns, family troubles, marriage troubles, children troubles and safety issues.

Frankly, any time the LORD wants to bless me with Jabez's blessing - I'm here... hands out, hearts willing and gratitude at the ready. Me! Sent Me!

So we get to the sons of Judah we are reading a genealogy list. Immediately - we all think - Oh, thanks Lord. C'mon, we do. And suddenly interest peaks - boredom first - then AHA!

Now let's really dig deep into Jabez. He was honorable, didn't want to cause pain, and asked for blessings. And he didn't want to experience pain. And... well a thud.

Jabez doesn't really have a Biblical Story. We forgot that in the nineties when we all wanted Jabez's blessing applied to our lives. Now why doesn't he have that story - there is NO Angst to learn from. Nothing to discuss. This would bore a psychologist to death. Would it even fall into the realm of normal - if that exists?

I knew a lady, in Dallas, people spoke of, when we all asked if  knew anyone someone with almost no problems -  . A gracious lady from a very prosperous family, who married a prosperous man, had a son and a daughter and sent them happily to college. Graciously giving to life and being good to the people around her. A Christian lady. In her fifties, her son's wife wanted to leave him for another man and take the two granddaughters with her to a new marriage. She suggested her new husband adopt the daughters. The lady, who had never even experienced a parental death, had her father dying and her daughter-in-law taking the grandchildren. She really frankly was experiencing pain for the first time - in abundance. And a very large dose of anger to go with that. Lather she would say, I had to experience for the first time, death and grief, and how to forgive when the offender - frankly did not care. Facing the fear my granddaughters would never know us. This good lady managed to overcome these things, she is a person who loves the Lord. She told us she was grateful for the decades she experienced without these problems. She smiled as she said, she hoped this was the last of these difficulties.

Frankly, it's an interesting story. I'm not sure Jabez is interesting. But I'm willing to live the situation and let you know...

Proverbs 30
5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Which always requires some of this -

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

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