Thursday, January 5, 2012

Living Proof

1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.

A few months after I gave birth to Kjaran, I felt like a mess.  I had no helper, I had a terrible-three toddler, and I was stuck at home. The daily tasks were overwhelming and the thought that it’d be a repeat the following day made me all the more drained. My only breather was going out on Sundays and my only answer to their ‘how are you’ question was: ‘Surviving!’  God orchestrated that one time, I got to chat with two mommies there, one with four teeners, the other with three big boys. Their stories rebuked all my complaints for they had more kids in their time, they had no helpers too, and had their works to attend to. They admitted it was indeed very difficult but they’re living proof that with God, it is not impossible. And because they trusted God and thrived, I found strength to hope anew. Praise God for you, beautiful ladies :>

The books of Chronicles were believed to have been written after the time the Babylonian exile ended. The chronicler, some said Ezra, allotted nine chapters to write Judah’s genealogy, from Adam to their time. Being remnants, it was crucial to gather those records to re-establish their identity as a nation and to be reminded that they were once God’s great people. When he was writing the descendants of Judah in the fourth chapter, he found it necessary to highlight a popular clan member: Jabez. While other names had to squeeze themselves with more or less three others in a verse, this man was given two full verses.  Why? Because his life can bring hope to the remnants! Born with a name that means pain, God was able to turn his sufferings to success. If he was also the man in 2:55, that place of scribes was named after him because he was an honourable man. He called on God to prosper and protect him and his prayers were heard. The chronicler wanted the remnants to see that the God of Jabez was still their living and faithful God who can bless them and expand their territories again; that although their land was without walls, He will be their defense; and that although harm will continue seek them, God can make them free from pain.  Jabez was living proof to that. 

I’m sure you have your list of countless people to thank God for because their lives strengthened you to take faith leaps. We were refreshed because they endured the thirst; we were revived, because they were at the brink of death; and we’re now continuing because they never stopped. The question is, how are we passing that legacy of faith?  When the next generation, our children specifically, encounter painful exiles, will the record show we trusted God and thrived? Will they believe God because our lives reflected Him alive in us? God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. The Apostle Paul believed that. Jabez lived that. Now that we’re on the line, we’re called to be a living proof to that. Pain is never an excuse to faithlessness. It actually gives more reason to experience His faithfulness. Prove that!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Living Proof

1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.

A few months after I gave birth to Kjaran, I felt like a mess.  I had no helper, I had a terrible-three toddler, and I was stuck at home. The daily tasks were overwhelming and the thought that it’d be a repeat the following day made me all the more drained. My only breather was going out on Sundays and my only answer to their ‘how are you’ question was: ‘Surviving!’  God orchestrated that one time, I got to chat with two mommies there, one with four teeners, the other with three big boys. Their stories rebuked all my complaints for they had more kids in their time, they had no helpers too, and had their works to attend to. They admitted it was indeed very difficult but they’re living proof that with God, it is not impossible. And because they trusted God and thrived, I found strength to hope anew. Praise God for you, beautiful ladies :>

The books of Chronicles were believed to have been written after the time the Babylonian exile ended. The chronicler, some said Ezra, allotted nine chapters to write Judah’s genealogy, from Adam to their time. Being remnants, it was crucial to gather those records to re-establish their identity as a nation and to be reminded that they were once God’s great people. When he was writing the descendants of Judah in the fourth chapter, he found it necessary to highlight a popular clan member: Jabez. While other names had to squeeze themselves with more or less three others in a verse, this man was given two full verses.  Why? Because his life can bring hope to the remnants! Born with a name that means pain, God was able to turn his sufferings to success. If he was also the man in 2:55, that place of scribes was named after him because he was an honourable man. He called on God to prosper and protect him and his prayers were heard. The chronicler wanted the remnants to see that the God of Jabez was still their living and faithful God who can bless them and expand their territories again; that although their land was without walls, He will be their defense; and that although harm will continue seek them, God can make them free from pain.  Jabez was living proof to that. 

I’m sure you have your list of countless people to thank God for because their lives strengthened you to take faith leaps. We were refreshed because they endured the thirst; we were revived, because they were at the brink of death; and we’re now continuing because they never stopped. The question is, how are we passing that legacy of faith?  When the next generation, our children specifically, encounter painful exiles, will the record show we trusted God and thrived? Will they believe God because our lives reflected Him alive in us? God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. The Apostle Paul believed that. Jabez lived that. Now that we’re on the line, we’re called to be a living proof to that. Pain is never an excuse to faithlessness. It actually gives more reason to experience His faithfulness. Prove that!