1 Chronicles Ch 4 v 1-23

At first sight we might be tempted to give this section a miss in our Bible readings. After all
it is simply a list of descendants of Judah – tedious reading other than to show Christ’s
forebears. However hidden in this section is an absolute gem.
The genealogy lists men and their children – nothing is said of them but suddenly in verses
9 and 10, a bloke called Jabez is mentioned. Presumably he was an ordinary chap of no
particular wealth, status, power, great deeds and yet we read the following:
v9  Now Jabez was more honourable than his brothers, and the Bible continues with
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.
After this the chapter and subsequent chapters continue with fairly mundane lists of the
descendents of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Jabez has a town named after him (1 Chronicles 2 v 55).
Jabez stands out because he was more honourable than the others listed here. I am
challenged by this statement. He stood out not because of earthly reasons but because he
honoured God and in doing so, I suggest he honoured his fellow people. So what would
have made him more honourable. In this passage it tells us he calls out to God (prayer)
and it might be reasonable to assume many others called out to God so what made him
more honourable – I can only speculate that he made every effort to follow the ten
commandments and lived them out in his life. (I am reminded of Enoch, the Bible records
that Enoch walked with God – nothing more is said about this walk with God). I can only
speculate that Jabez had a relationship with the God of Israel that went beyond the
academic knowledge of the ten commandments, it was a walk with God – a relationship
with God that permeated his whole life and in doing so he was more honourable than the
many people listed in the genealogy.
Jabez calls out (prays) to God - Oh, that You would bless me indeed, It would be
tempting to interpret this as please God give me many things – goats, sheep, wives,
riches, big house, land………..but to do so misses out the deep and proper meaning of the
word bless.
In Hebrew the word bless (barak) conveys the idea of to bend the knee, the idea of
humility, service and bowing down. The word barak as used here is about an
acknowledgement and admission that God is the only one who can bless and that God
blesses for his purposes, not ours.  
Possibly one could state Jabez’s prayer as “God, bless me – in the way that You wish to –
and I will be content.” Bless me as I follow your commandments and plans.
This fits with Jabez being an honourable man in the sight of God.
So then why did Jabez ask God for more land; was this wishing for more wealth, power,
status? Commentators suggest this should be viewed in the context that God lead the
Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land and that he commanded them to expand
into the area (to drive out the Canaanites) so what Jabez was really seeking here was for

God’s purposes to be fulfilled and nothing to do with his personal desires other than to see
God glorified. The same way we might ask God for more souls to be saved…..
that Your hand would be with me...this phrase when used in the Old Testament is about
knowing God’s presence and power, so Jabez is asking that as he follows God’s plan that
he may know God’s presence and power (we might wish to add; to have and know the
guidance of the Holy Spirit)
You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!….as an honourable man he
was no doubt aware of all the wrong around him and of his own weaknesses (like us all) to
get it wrong. He had no wish to add to the wrong in the world.
So here we see a God fearing man, seeking to follow God’s ways and plans and in his
desire to honour God, his request is granted – So God granted him what he requested.
Like Enoch what a legacy if it was said of us that we walked with God.
Like Jabez what a legacy if it was said of us that we are more honourable.​​
 

Mike

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