Rev. Eli Hernandez
The Pain That Changed Me
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Introduction
Usually when we read the Bible, a chapter like the one we just read is skipped. We don’t want to deal with the length and pronunciation of these difficult names. Sometimes we even ignore the fact that something significant should or could be found in these types of chapters.
These types of chapters are called “genealogies”. A genealogy is a record of the lineage of a family, or a list of ancestors. For the Jews keeping this type of record was very important. They would preserve these genealogies with extreme care, and reverence.
To the Jews, genealogies were important for several reasons:
1. It established their heritage—including their rights of inheritance and property, claims to the throne, priesthood and clan leadership
2. To keep record of their history as a nation. It helped them organize—determining how they pitched their tents, chose their spies, and got into the promise land
3. It helped the Jews prove that they were God’s chosen people, and it kept them in touch with what God had done in them and through them. It also helped them to trace the Predictions concerning the Messiah
The writer of First Chronicles used this list of names to show how God had chosen Israel for a prominent role in history. He wanted to encourage those who had just returned from exile and were struggling to rebuild their ruined nation. This genealogy helped the surviving Jews see that God could use them too, that God’s purposes were still in effect.
When reading it, for nine chapters you would see nothing but names. It talks about;
- Adam, the first man in history
- Abraham, the friend of God
- Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Essau
- Joseph, the governor of Egypt
- Moses, who talked to God face to face
- David, a man after God’s own heart
- Enoch, a man who walked with God
- Barnabas, a man full of the Spirit
- And then there is Jabez
We don’t know much about Jabez, but we know that he was a man of prayer and that he was more honorable than his brothers. These are two of the most powerful tools that any Christian today can have (1) Prayer and (2) Honor.
Why would this genealogy comment on Jabez? To the Hebrew’ way of thinking, Jabez was a “born looser.” His name literally means “PAIN”. His mother gave birth to him in “PAIN” and he comes from the tribe of Judah a tribe that suffered great “PAIN”.
But in spite of this dysfunctional beginning, he was honored because of his relationship with God. This was a valuable lesson for a people struggling with his or her own identity. The scripture are full of endless list of names. It is sad to think that multitudes are listed and that all that is said about them is that they lived and then they died.
Jabez was different, his name stood out from among those in insignificancy. He was not a great prophet, or preacher, he was not a wise ruler over a nation, and he was not famous on the field of battle, but he was a man of PRAYER & HONOR.
There are at least five Important Spiritual lessons in verse 10
I. SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY – “Oh That You Would Bless Me”
Jabez was seeking for a direct blessing from God. He understood that he needed God’s blessing on his life. He was labeled pain, he was born in pain and his ancestors lived in pain. But now he is seeking a new anointing, a new identity, and a new experience with God. He was seeking spiritual prosperity. He had probably heard of different people in history who had God’s blessing on their lives and now he wanted it for him.
A. God told Abraham – Genesis 12:2 “I will make you a great nation, I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.
B. Jacob refused to let the angel of the Lord go – Genesis 32:6 “I will not let you go unless you bless me” And God bless him and his entire generation.
When we as humans obtain the blessings of God. Nothing will get in the way of our blessing. The whole world can break loose, but we will be blessed.
- Broken Marriages will become whole
- The sick will be healed
- Families would become stronger
- Ministries will grow and flourish, and
Proverbs 10:22 – The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and adds no sorrow with it.
Jabez was interested in seeking the affirmation and the approval of God. He was not trying to be successful. He wanted to please God.
II. SPIRITUAL PROMOTION – “Enlarge My Territory”
Jabez was seeking to increase his outreach. He was seeking to enlarge his life. He had been pain for to long now it was time to grow out of that name. He was not satisfied with being part of the genealogy of Judah he wanted to be known by God as an individual.
A. The word “enlarges” means
· To make larger
· To multiply
· To extend in limits and in dimensions
· To extend to a greater purpose or use
· To mature
· To grow to a different level
B. The word “territory” refers to boundaries
· His desire was reach beyond his situation
· He needed to expand his influence
· He wanted to grow out of his name
C. The Changing of Name
· Jabez meant pain
· Abram – Abraham (Genesis 12:1-2)
· Jacob – Israel (Genesis 32:28)
He wanted his name, his identity, his background, his ministry, and his purpose to be changed
III. SPIRITUAL PROTECTION – “Let your hand be with me”
A. He prayed that God’s hand would be with
him. God’s hand indicating;
· Power
· Protection
· Safety
· Guidance & Direction
· Approval & Acceptance
B. The Hebrew word that is used here is the
one for an open hand
· An open hand can grab
· An open hand can hold
· An open hand can pull
· An open hand can caress
After walking all his life with a name such as pain. Jabez was seeking for God to grab him, to hold him, to pull him in, and to caress him.
Psalms 37:24 Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
CONCLUSION
IV. SPIRITUAL PURITY & DELIVERANCE – “Keep me from harm, so that I may be free from pain”
A. Although Jabez was aware of the power of
evil, he was also aware of the power of deliverance
· He said “keep me from harm” From the past that has haunted him and probably all of his ancestors. He wanted to break the curse. He wanted to live right with God.
· He said, “So that I may be free from pain”. He understood that he needed to let go if his past. He wanted to be forgiveness and restoration, he wanted a new identity.
Psalm 97:10 – “Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivered them from the hand of the wicked”
B. And God granted his request. It says that God came through for him.
· This is a man, who is not a great preacher, teacher, warrior, or leader, but in midst of all that. He would be able to say that he hung with the big boys
- Moses - Exodus 15:24-25
- Gideon - Judges 6:39-40
- Samuel - 1 Samuel 7:9-10
- Solomon - 1 Kings 9:3
- Elijah - 1 King 18:37-38
- Hezekiah - 2 Kings 19:19-20
· The Bible teaches that there was a city called Jabez in which the scribes of those time would go to rest – 1 Chronicles 2:55
· Jabez came from the tribe of Judah, which is the tribe that Jesus the Messiah come out of – Matthew 1:3
