What’s In A Name
One Year Bible (July 8)
I Chronicles 5:18-6:81
“What’s In a Name”
After chapters of genealogies, you just have to ask yourself, “What’s in a Name?”
This very question is posed in the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”
This line is used to show that the naming of things is irrelevant. It is true that sometimes people judge others as their enemies just by their name. For instance, the name “Montague” kept them apart in this famous play.
Another classic old American Western was called “The Hatfields and the McCoys”. Their family feud spanned decades and nearly launched a war between Kentucky and West Virginia.
A name is a pretty big deal and what tribe or family you are related to can say a lot about you.
Sometimes one name can tell you a lot about a person. For instance, what if I mentioned the name “Jabez”?
His story was found in yesterday’s reading in I Chronicles 4:9-10.
Out of an entire book he was only mentioned in TWO LITTLE VERSES, and yet there is an entire Bible study published about him.
Perhaps you have heard of the little book, “The Prayer of Jabez” by Bruce Wilkinson. It was released in 2000 and sold nine million copies in its first two years in print. A two-verse story has turned into a pretty big success!
Jabez’s name means, “PAIN”. (Actually, it is more like “Pain in the Tushy”. See how I cleaned that up for you?) His birth had been so painful that his mother named him “PAIN”.
If she was French that would have been “Du Pain” which means “Bread”. That would have been a little bit more elegant. Don’t you think? Obviously, she needed one of those little books with more selections to choose from, because long after her pain subsided he was still wearing “Du Pain” in the form of his name!
Here is what we know about Jabez (besides his embarrassing name). He was “More honorable than any of his brothers”, and “He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel”. (4:9-10)
So, right away we see that 1) He was living larger than his name, 2) He knew how to live with honor, and 3) He knew who to pray to The God of Israel.
Here is his short story and big impact, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please, be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain! (4:10)
In reading about this particular prayer request, I have found there are some who criticize it and say, “What a selfish prayer!” This guy didn’t start with praising God and all he is doing is asking for “blessings and wealth”.
Have you noticed how some people like to look at other people of God and find fault? Perhaps, they want their “book deal” also…
They say that the “Proof is in the Pudding”... So, let’s look at the pudding, shall we?
What does God think about his prayer? Perhaps that is more important than my opinion or your opinion.
Here’s the “Du Pain Pudding”, “And God granted him his request.” (4:10)
And that, my friends, is why people are buying this little book. They obviously want to know how to be blessed.
So, let’s take a closer look here…Jabez was CONCEIVED in PAIN, but he was COMMENDED through PRAYER!
He had four requests of the God of Israel:
Bless me.
Enlarge my territory.
Let your hand be with me.
Keep me from evil.
Some people want a magical prayer to pray to find God and they hope this prayer will do the trick, but Jabez’s faith wasn’t in a formula. It was in the God of Israel who heard his prayer.
Others criticize and say, “He just wanted to be wealthy and ask for a bunch of land.”
But, we should note that he asks God to have HIS hand on him and to keep him from evil.
Jabez’s prayer helps us better understand our passage today, and
I and II Chronicles as a book. Perhaps that is why the Chronicler included Jabez’s prayer here for us to contemplate.
There are two principles all throughout this study of God’s people, their exile, and their return.
First, Obedience brings Blessing.
Second, Disobedience brings judgment.
These principles are based on a covenant relationship with God.
”If… you obey. Then… I will bless.”
Tomorrow, we will look at more examples of this principle, but for now, try to look at the genealogies through God’s eyes.
What was he searching for in his people?
What’s in a Name?
Just ask Jabez…from “Du Pain” to “Du Prayer”. Oh, la’ la’!
