1 Chronicles 4:9-10
“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “’Because I bore him in pain.’ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.”
Tucked away in a sea of names, we find the brief story of a man named Jabez. From the bits of data recorded about him, we learn he was an honorable man who left a mark upon his world. His name reveals much regarding his upbringing. Jabez meant “to cause pain.” He received that name because of the difficulties surrounding his birth. It seems as though his mother never got over that trauma, because Jabez grew up thinking his life would cause continual pain to others. Instead of growing up in a home where he was nurtured and encouraged to become all God had designed him to be, Jabez grew up being reminded that his life would only cause pain in others.
It is sad how often Jabez’ story is repeated. Time and time again, children grow up in circumstances that thwart their growth, rather than encourage it. An absent father, a divorce, substance abuse, or simply the lack of allowing Christ to be the center of the home, will have a profound effect upon a young person. It is common for the sins of the parents to be repeated in the children. A child whose parents divorce, has a greater chance of a failed marriage. Children, whose parents abuse alcohol or drugs, will be more likely to do the same.
It would seem the likely end to the story of Jabez is he would grow to become a man who carried the baggage and bitterness from his difficult upbringing. Instead, we read he was an honorable man, and one worthy of being recorded within the Chronicles of the kingdom.
What happened? What was the secret that raised Jabez out of the slums of despair and turned him into a mighty man of God? The answer is found in one simple phrase, “Jabez called on God.” No matter what the problem is, when we include the Lord in the equation, we will find a solution that is both glorifying to Him, and satisfying to us. Instead of allowing his difficult circumstances to determine who he would become, Jabez sought God and was transformed.
Whatever “baggage” you may have from past experiences, these things do not have to define you. You can come to the One who makes all things new. Allow Him to minister to your wounded heart, and transform you into a person who brings honor to Him, and leaves an example for others to follow.
Pastor Jim
As we seek to follow Christ, we often fall along the way. Sometimes, we may only slightly stumble, while at other times, we may take quite a hard fall. It is not uncommon after failing, falling, or having a set back, that we may feel as though we can no longer follow or serve Christ. Without even knowing it, we have turned our relationship with the Lord into something reward based. We think we are blessed when we do what is right, and once we fail, we are no longer worthy of His love, favor or calling. Without a doubt, the low point in David’s life was when he fell into sin with Bathsheba. How remarkable to find that the next king of Israel would be her son, Solomon. The grace of God is an ocean so deep we could never fathom its depth or stop its flow. No matter how far we have fallen, He is able to redeem us completely.
Since the opening chapters of 1 Chronicles are designed to give us an accurate genealogical account of Israel, very little commentary is given. When that pattern is broken, our attention should be grabbed. In the case of Achar, we find a brief reference to his story alongside his name. Achar, or Achan, lived during the conquest of Canaan. He was among those men who followed Joshua across the Jordan, into the promised land. His situation gave him opportunity to be heroic, until greed got a hold of him.
One of the saddest experiences in life is to see a close friend fall away from the Lord. From the outside, the process often looks the same. A person, who once walked closely with the Lord and was involved in Christian service, begins to drift ever so slightly. First, their conversation changes. Instead of talking about the Lord, sharing from their times of Bible reading or service, they begin to talk only of the waves and the weather. Next, we begin to see them a little less frequently around the church. In some cases, only the responsibility of a service commitment keeps them coming; until finally they step down from their responsibility, and seem to vanish. Sometimes, it will take weeks or even months before we realize what has happened, and by that time, they have cut ties from most of their Christian friends, and are back involved in the things of the world.
Reading through all these names can be somewhat tedious. We know very little about many of the characters, and some of the names are quite difficult to pronounce. That being said, I am encouraged by many of those whose names are listed. The records include the likes of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Caleb, David and many others. These names should flood our minds with memories of great, even heroic acts of faith and faithfulness. These men were used by God to turn the world upside down. Their simple lives, lived out in faith and obedience, have forever changed to history of humanity.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “you should have known better?” We use it when we view evidence so compelling that a particular conclusion is obvious. “I didn’t know that would happen!” This statement, a response to throwing a firecracker into the barbecue pit, or bringing a handgun through airport security, is an unreasonable response, “You should know better.” It seems equally as surprising to me, that the Psalmist would need to remind us that man is a creative work of God and did not spring into being as a result of his own innate ability. As surprising, and even preposterous as it may be, we hear all of the time, how highly intelligent and well-educated people will choose to believe that man is not a byproduct of an intelligent and loving Creator, but the consequence of random chance.
The final chapters of 2 Kings tell the story of the death of a nation. After having a glorious beginning, and being miraculously sustained for a thousand years, the nation of Judah is defeated, the Temple destroyed, and the people taken as prisoners of war. These chapters record their collapse from heaven’s perspective. It was not caused by economic failure, a weak foreign policy, or because Babylon was a superior foe. Judah’s demise was simply a consequence of national sin, “…because of the sins of Manasseh…”
Imagine sitting on Mount Scopus, just a little northeast of Jerusalem, as the Babylonian forces surrounded the city. Before long, the walls were penetrated, and the city taken. First the leaders were gathered and executed, then the city was plundered and burned. What had once been a glorious testimony to the goodness of God, now told an entirely different message. All who watched the city fall should have learned the devastating effects of sin. Even after a contingency returned to rebuild the temple, Jerusalem would still bear scars from its fall.
I find it striking that the Psalmist declares that hate is a necessary expression of true love. He explains that part of being in a healthy love relationship with Jesus is having a hatred for evil. Why is it necessary to hate evil? Why should we hate evil? I can think of at least three pretty strong reasons.
Josiah was the youngest king to reign over the nation of Israel. At eight years old, his father died and he ascended the throne. We read very little of the early years of his reign, but at eighteen, he began a campaign to reform the nation, and turn the people back to the Lord. Josiah would go on to become one of the greatest kings in the nation’s long history. His success is summed up in three simple statements: he did what was right, he walked in the ways of the Lord, and he did not allow himself to become sidetracked by other things. As his story unfolds, we see the application of each of these points.
Jim Gallagher 