Truth Exposed:   Jabez

Chapters 1-8 of 1 Chronicles are nothing but boring lists of genealogies, enough to put you to sleep.  Oh, but the nuggets of gold that are in there.  Have you met Jabez?  He’s interjected at 4:10, seemingly out of nowhere.  No mention of parentage.  Who were his brothers?   And he is praying, of all things, in the middle of lists of names.  Verse 10 is like a hic-up in the middle of the scroll.  And his prayer is that God would bless him, keep him from harm, and ultimately, that he would never bring harm to another. Enlarge his territory; increase his ministry?  Do I want my ministry increased?  What incredible humility.  Ultimate compassion, mercy, and grace.  The heart of Jesus.  And then the lists continue as if nothing had happened.   Nuggets of gold tucked in the most absurd places.

Read carefully.

Ask questions.

Know your scriptures.