Theological musings

  Jabez was more honourable than his brothers 1 Chronicles 4.9-10 Over the years there has been a lot of fuss around Jabez, the guy who asked for a new Ferrari and got it. Perhaps the patron saint of prosperity teachers? The focus is often on the fact that he said, "Oh that you would: bless me enlarge my border [the part we love: more turf] that your hand might be with me and that you would keep me from harm ... so that it might not bring me pain." But what was his starting position, before he said that? First, he was more honourable than his brothers He called upon the God of Israel But He was cursed by his parents (borne in pain) This from the ESV Expository Commentary: Rather than having his future determined by what his mother "called" him, he "called" to God – and God answered his prayer. Rather than his name being regarded as a bad omen, he was "honoured" As the commentary continues, we need to remember that Chronicles was written after the...