(9) “And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, because I bore him with sorrow.
(10) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”
1 Chronicles 4:9-10

“And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren…” honorable meaning ‘a man of weight.’ Right in the middle of nine chapters of seemingly endless genealogies, just as if we were walking through a graveyard of those with whom we were not personally acquainted, a spotlight shines on the tombstone of a man named Jabez, prompting us to read it, and then read it again. The Holy Spirit, through the precious Word of God, has here shown us that the details of the lives of many will pass away like chaff in the wind, but there are none so remembered – their names echoing through the portals of eternity even still – as those who dared to lift up their faith to God in prayer. Many things could have given his life ‘weight’ so as to be honored by men – nobility, character,  wealth – but the only ‘weight’ that is honored before God is ‘faith;’ faith in His Son Jesus Christ and His atoning death on Calvary by which we are made heirs to all the privileges His grace affords (“…for without faith it is impossible to please God.” Heb. 11:6).

The circumstances surrounding his birth far less than ideal, his mother chose to name him Jabez, literally meaning, ‘he means or causes sorrow/pain.’ How important is a name? How would you like to have ‘Sadness,’ ‘Grief,’ or ‘Trouble’ on your birth certificate? He could have chosen a path of bitterness and victim hood in life, forever limited by a label, but faith doesn’t see ‘what is,’ but what could be. Sure, this is my coastline and these are the boundary markers of my allotted inheritance in this life. But I’m asking You for more. Exceeding blessings… extending influence… expanding victory. Is this just another pious man in the annals of history? Am I not to follow the example of Jabez and ask for the blessings of God in my heart and home? Unbelief would close all the windows and lock all the doors, “It is enough what God has done and no more…” “I’m so unworthy…” “Maybe for other people…” “I’ve failed too much for God to bless me…” “God doesn’t have my best interest in mind anyways…”. Oh but faith! Faith throws open all the windows of the heart and says, “What You did for Jabez, You can do for me! More, Lord!”

In the dust of His feet,

Sunni Hoffman