From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Now this is a prophetic, encouraging word my friend Catherine Brown shares: every child of God is positioned in Christ to be an overcomer and to rise victoriously over their circumstances to the glory of God!
So many are facing hardships in their circumstances but we are positioned to rise victoriously! There's much to learn from the life of Jabez as Catherine shares so well.
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Catherine Brown:
Moving From Pain to Gain
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 (NKJV)
Jabez' Genealogy and Background
Jabez lived in southern Israel after the conquest of Canaan and during the time of the Judges. He was born into the tribe of Judah and eventually became the notable head of a clan.
Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying "I gave birth to him in pain." 1 Chronicles 4:9 (NIV)
Why does the Chronicler record that Jabez was considered to be more honourable than his brothers? Perhaps it was because he had set his heart to please God no matter what. One thing I have learned in life is that when trouble and trials assail us, to focus on the inherent goodness of God is of paramount importance if we are to remain faith-filled, surrendered and obedient to the Holy Spirit.
Moving From Pain to Gain
The Hebrew word for Jabez means "pain." Why did Jabez' mother name him "pain"? The Chronicler notes that she gave birth to Jabez "in pain." We can legitimately say that pain is an aspect of all labour and giving birth for every woman, yet it is evident that the world is not full of children called Jabez; to the inquisitive mind this provokes further thought on the naming of the boy Jabez.
The naming of a child points to their future potential. In ancient times the choosing of a name was often the expression of aspiration and/or prophecy about a child's future. For instance, Solomon means "peaceful." Solomon succeeded his father King David and reigned over Israel as a man of peace.
When naming our children, my husband and I spent much time in prayer and in the Scriptures searching for the names we believed God had decreed for each one of them. It was a precious and powerful time of seeking the mind of the Lord. We knew God had a destiny for them and we wanted their names to reflect that God-given destiny.
When naming our son Daniel, we had a strong impression that he would become a young man of great intellect that God would use for His glory and that he would be a peer to his peers just like his namesake in the Bible. At seventeen years old, our son Daniel is living up to his God-given name – he is academically brilliant and he is clearly a young man who is extremely popular with his peers, and therefore, has the capacity to influence and lead.
As we look to the time of Jabez' birth, it is clear that things were not easy in his household. We might ask what was it about this season of Jabez' mother's life that caused her to name her son in such a negative manner? Was her pregnancy difficult? Did the boy's father abandon them? Did the father die? Was it a physically difficult birth? Was the family facing financial crisis? The truth is we will never know this side of Heaven why she named her son Jabez, but we can think compassionately about the woman's situation nonetheless.
It is useful to consider the circumstances surrounding the birth and early years of the young man Jabez who experienced an epiphany of such magnitude that he moved from a position of "pain" to "gain" in one magnificent faith-fueled prayer that became a transformational point in his life and propelled him into what God our Father had prepared for his life.
One important lesson we can learn from the naming of Jabez is that no matter what circumstances we are born into (including any painful or traumatic situations our parents may have faced), every child of God is positioned in Christ to be an overcomer and to rise victoriously over their circumstances to the glory of God! Our past or present difficulties are not to become a thing that will confine us, and nor should pain become a roadblock on the path of destiny. Jabez knew God as deliverer of Israel, and in God he placed a fervent hope as may we today.
Just like Jabez, every Believer must choose to surrender their will to the goodness of God and trust Him as a mighty Deliverer. I heard a quotation recently that expresses something of this truth: "When you are standing on the edge of a cliff, trust God, surrender and let go. He will either catch you when you fall or teach you how to fly!" When we reach the end of our rope...we touch the hem of His garment, and therein lies our healing and hope.
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed!"
Live a Simple Life of Faith
Dr. Bruce H. Wilkinson comments on the life of Jabez:
• Things started badly for a person who no one had heard of.
• He prayed an unusual, one-sentence prayer.
• Things ended extraordinarily well.
May we be encouraged and aspire to live a simple life of faith that flows with the knowledge and manifestation of God's gracious blessing.
Today, join me in praying, "Oh Lord, bless me indeed – for the glory of Your name and the expansion of Your Kingdom, in Jesus' name, amen."
Yours in His love,
Catherine Brown
Founder/Director Gatekeepers Global Ministries
Co-Founder, Scottish Apostolic Networking Enterprise
Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk
