I just started reading Chronicles, and the first few chapters are genealogies. Reading through genealogies can be difficult because it’s hard to keep track of the names and connections, and sometimes they’re not even in chronological order. But I have made it a rule that I would not skid through them. I must admit it’s not easy, but from time to time, I come across something that stands out, and when you look meditatively, you can see something remarkable.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

⁹ Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”^[b] 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm^[c] so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

After reading name after names for many pages I came across Jabez. The Bible says that he was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because she bore him in pain. Jabez means he will be sorrowful. The Bible does not give details of his life but  regardless of that he says that he called upon God. This call shows us that he knew that he needed help and trusted that God could do it.

I think it says a lot that we can read this very short account of Jabez and not be given much detail at all, but the little that it does say speaks volumes. It shows a man who knew enough about God to know that he could call upon Him. And it even tells us enough to know that God heard him and blessed him.

So what does this say to me? It says that we should recognize that we need God, we cannot live this life without him. We should call upon him and ask. We need to pray about everything and trust in God. Let us be a people who depends on God, calls upon him and builds a relationship with Him.