LEARN FROM JABEZ

LEARN FROM JABEZ                                                                    

In 1 Chronicles 4:1-10, it is the genealogy of the tribe of Judah. They were trying to use history to rate the lineage of Judah. Verse 1-8 and 11 down again was a story of the Clans of Judah. In vs 9-10, Jabez could not just be named without highlighting the story of his name. Romans 15:4, everything written in the scripture is for our learning and for us to have comfort and hope. 1 Corinthians 10:11, The examples in the scriptures were written down as warning for us. The story of Jabez was written as an example for our learning. Examples are given for us to learn as indicated in Rom 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11. Jabez prayed and scored a pass mark that God deemed fit as an example for others. In memory, any where Jabez is mentioned, it is mentioned for prayer that changed situations. How will we be remembered and what can people learn from the examples about us. Somethings come by reason of bad choices or situations but what is the response to the bad situation. What response do we choose as it pertains to us. In verse 9-10 , Jabez was called the name to represent the bad situation. His mother named him Jabez because he was “born out of sorrow”.

  She had a lot of pain and sorrow during his birth. Jabez became greater than his brothers because of his prayers. In Genesis 35:18, Rachael bore a child after Jacob released a curse of death upon whoever stole her fathers idols. And Rachael had stolen her fathers idols and on giving birth, she had great pain and while dying she named her son Ben-oni, meaning the “son of sorrow” but Jacob immediately renamed him Benjamin.

It is possible there were other sorrowful happenings around the circumstances of Jabez birth, either before or after his birth. To his mother he is a reminder of sorrow. Probably his father also died around the time of his birth and these brought sorrow to the mother. And this event happened beyond Jabez’s control. We may not be able to control the names or verdict people give over things without considering what God can do in the situation. But God can change the situation when we call on him for HELP. 

When Peter was walking on water and began to sink he called out to Jesus “Lord save me”. Rom 10:12 “There is no difference between Jew and Gentiles, the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him”. The one who calls on God more will be richly blessed by him. In Psalm 55 verse 6, the Psalmist said “As for me, i will call upon God and the Lord shall save me”. In Psalm 99:6, They called upon the Lord and he answered them. Jabez called upon the God of Israel and he answered him. In verse 9, Jabez is noted as a honorable man of integrity and righteousness, a man that knew God. James 5:16, The prayer of a righteousness is effective. The lifestyle we live affects the call upon God.

 Jabez called ”Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed”.

 From our limited knowledge and by what happens around us we look at thing that are precious and see them as things that do not look exciting. The appearance of things makes us to take the wrong decision. Joseph after his prayers also went through bad situations before getting to the place of blessing. Even the butler forgot Joseph for two years even after joseph helped him. “Oh Lord, Let the summation of things that be work together for our blessings”. Joseph’s blessing happened at night time. He became the head of everything Potiphar and his wife had. Jacob Joseph’s father was an anointed man. Jacob was overjoyed when he was told by his sons that Joseph is alive and a prince in Egypt. There are things that look like challenges all through but will turn out to be good in the end. In Rom 8:28, Bible say “all things work together for good to them that love God”. Soup items are not sweet on their own but when they are mixed together they become sweet. In Ephesians 1:3 Bible says, God blesses us with all spiritual blessing, we need to call upon God to gain all spiritual blessings.The second prayer of Jabez is that “God would enlarge his territory”.

 Nigeria and Cameroon battled over Bakassi and even went to court to determine the owner of that Bakassi territory. The third prayer, “The hand of God be with me” talks about the directions of God. It is a prayer for the presence of God to be on our life. The fourth prayer “keep me from harm”. There is evil in the day and the night. It is only God that delivers. In Psalm 91:5-6 “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday”.  The fifth prayer “that i will be free from pain”. A prayer to be free of whatever proclamation or situation around us. 1 John 5:14 “ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us”. Matthew 7:8 “For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”.
 Because a man decided to go to God to change his story he became honored. What if Jabez folded his hands and declared that the odds were against him. With God in the situation he can turn everything around, but you need to first give your life to Christ.

PRAYER:  Oh Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me all my sins . Enter into my life and take over everything that concerns me. Change me story as you changed that of Jabez in Jesus name i pray. Amen

Minister: Samuel Oguta