DAY 2 – THE PRODIGY OF THE GENEALOGY
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Someone once said there is really very little difference between people but that little difference makes a great deal of difference. Jabez doesn't stand out in the Old Testament like a Moses or a David or light up the book of Acts like those early Christians who turned the world upside down. But one thing is sure: The little difference in his life made all the difference.
You could think of him as the Prodigy of the Genealogy, or maybe the
Bibles Little Big Man. You'll find him hiding in the least read section of one of the least read books of the Bible.
The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles are taken up with the official family tree of the Hebrew tribes, beginning with Adam and proceeding through thousands of years to Israel’s return from captivity. The long lists of unfamiliar and difficult names – more than five hundred of them – are likely to make even the bravest Bible student turn back.
Take chapter 4. The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.. .. And that’s just the beginning. Ahumai, Ishma, Idbash, Hazele1poni, Anub ... And forty-four names into the chapter, a story suddenly breaks through: 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. (l Chronicles 4:9-10)
In the next verse, the roll call for the tribe of Judah picks up as if nothing has happened- Chelub, Shuah, Mehir..
Something about this man Jabez had caused the historian to pause in middle of his roll call to share his story. He stands head and shoulders above the rest!" What was the secret to the enduring reputation of Jabez?
• Things started badly for a person no one had ever heard of.
• He prayed an unusual, one-sentence prayer.
• Things ended extraordinarily well.
Clearly, the outcome can be traced to his prayer. Something about Jabez’s simple, direct request to God changed his life and left a permanent mark on the history books of Israel:
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.
At first glance, the four requests may strike you as sincere, sensible, even noble, but not terribly remarkable. Yet just under the surface of each lies a giant paradigm breaker that runs exactly opposite to the way you and I usually think. In the days to come, I want to show you just how dramatically each of jabez's requests can release something miraculous in your life.
Shalom,
Rev. Obadiah Swen
Pastor, BWOC-VA
Please join us for a time of prayer and fasting this week.
1. Praise God for sending Jesus to die on the cross for us. 1 Peter 1:18-19
2. Pray that God will bless, enlarge, anoint and protect us, our family, our church, our community and our world. 1 Chron. 4:10
3. Pray that God will establish His kingdom and will in our lives, our family, our church, our community and our world. Matt. 6:10
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