Seeking God in 1 CHRONICLES

“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.” 1 CHRONICLES 4:10

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abez was not the only man in this world to be born under a curse through a label imposed by his mother. His name means he will cause pain. What kind of woman would identify her son according to the natural pain of giving birth? No wonder he prayed, that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain. Sometimes the people God assigns to protect us during childhood are the very ones who place us in the arms of danger. Ignorance? Perhaps, but the effects of such situations can potentially haunt us unless we are wise enough, like Jabez, to ask God for our deliverance. This man recognized that the Lord could not only bless him, but also reverse the curse of the name his mother gave him.

When we are born under a curse, as all men are in this world, the only way to salvation is God. Therapy, drugs, material comforts, or even the passage of time can do very little to heal our wounds. We cannot change the past, nor can we change the people or circumstances that brought us harm. Only the blessing of the Lord, His infinite love through his Son Jesus, and the Word, can truly restore us. The Bible says that Jabez was an honorable man, more than his brothers, and that his mother named him sorrow maker. What would cause God to grant his prayer? Faith! It does not matter where you come from or what your family has called you, as long as you remember the One who is the your true source. God is your manna, your blessing, your shield, your light…Father, may we always come to you with our prayers, knowing how deep and marvelous your love is. We ask this in the name of Jesus, amen.