THE REFUGE
“Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil that it may not hurt me!” And God granted him what he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:10
In the genealogy linked to Bethlehem in the book of Chronicles, Jabez stands out as a radiant star amidst a sea of names. His name signifies that he was born in sorrow, though the Bible doesn’t elaborate on the nature of this sorrow. All we have is his heartfelt prayer to the God of Israel. Today, we also find ourselves in a time of profound sorrow, where the word of God is often overshadowed by sinful passions. Let us pause and reflect on Jabez’s prayer; perhaps we too will aspire to be a shining star in a world that celebrates evil while pursuing holiness.
Jabez begins his prayer with a passionate plea, “Oh that You would bless me.” Similarly, we must seek God’s blessing, asking Him to redeem our souls from the impending wrath and to help us recognize our sinful nature and the deceitfulness of our hearts. It is at this point of desperation that we truly learn to depend on the Lord Jesus Christ, for there is salvation and no one else. “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”
Additionally, Jabez prayed, “Enlarge my borders,” expressing his desire to honor God in all his endeavors and to see the wickedness of his time diminished. Therefore, soldiers of the cross, prepare for the great battle ahead. May faith and repentance lead us as we confront all sins that so easily entangle us. Let our battle cry be, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Oh, to be broken for the glory of God, taking up our cross daily and crucifying our passions as we follow our beloved Savior.
As we consider the final part of Jabez’s prayer—“That Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that it may not hurt me!”—we must recognize that in our efforts to honor Christ, we are surrounded by evil and under constant attack. Like Moses of old, we should resolve not to move forward unless God goes before us. The last thing we want is for our testimony of Christ to become tarnished, as the enemies of the cross love to see the people of God fail in moral integrity.
Therefore, let us embrace the Holy Word of God, which serves as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. God’s word is immutable and unchanging. We must evaluate all our circumstances and decisions against its profound truths to avoid stumbling over the deceitfulness of our own hearts. Like Paul, we must acknowledge our struggles, as he lamented, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
May the God of all heaven and earth open the eyes of our hearts so that we may grasp the richness and beauty of the Holy Bible, enabling us to grow in our knowledge of Christ. Lord, I pray, “Let the powerful prayer of Jabez echo within us as we seek to fulfill Your will and bring You glory. May we never forget to visit Calvary and witness our bleeding Savior sacrificing Himself in our stead. Let Your grace precede us in all that we do.”