Lessons from Jabez, Caleb and others

Text 1 Chronicles 4:1-23 Time 15 07 20 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church (Zoom)

I found a website recently that Skynews have done - 100 UK patients who have died after contracting covid-19. There is a set of pictures there and if you click a picture you get some info about them. Most of the faces I did not recognise but then I noticed some I did so I clicked - 

• Comedian Eddie Large was half of double act Little and Large, who enjoyed TV success in the 1980s. He contracted COVID-19 in hospital while being treated for heart failure. He was 78.
• Norman Hunter, 76, was a key player for Leeds United in their 60-70s pomp under manager Don Revie. The England defender was known as 'Bites Yer Legs' because of his physical style. He won two league championship winners' medals with the Yorkshire side. He also won the FA Cup, League Cup and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, and in 1974 was the inaugural winner of the PFA's player of the year award. Hunter made more than 500 appearances for Leeds during his illustrious 20-year playing career, which also included shorter stints at Bristol City and Barnsley. 

I then looked at one or two others. 

We continue to look at the opening chapters of 1 Chronicles as we come to 4:1-23. Here the writer continues to focus on the Tribe of Judah. One reason for this, besides it being such a large tribe, is that Judah eventually formed, with the smaller tribes of Simeon, Benjamin and the Levites, the people of God, the other tribes being taken off into exile by the Assyrians in 722 BC. 

Here we have over a hundred names, nearly all men, though there are a few women mentioned. Some of the names have been mentioned before but most not. Some of the names given are clearly place names - Ephrathah, Bethlehem, Tekoa, etc. Nearly all of them remain just names to us but, as with the Skynews website, some are known, such as Judah, Hur, Caleb son of Jephunneh and Othniel. Three things 

1. Lessons from various skilled workers and others (14, 16-23)

We begin at the end 

1. The skilled workers of verse 14 

You have heard of Silicon Valley. It is the nickname for a region in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay area where a lot of computer and social media companies are situated. It is what is called a business cluster. You get it sometimes in places. So in London, Hatton Garden is traditionally where jewellers shops are, Savile Row is where the tailoring business was, Harley Street doctors. Fleet Street used to be the newspaper centre and Covent Garden the place for fruit and veg. 

There seems to be an example of that here. 14 Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of GeHarashim. It was called this because its people were skilled workers. GeHarashim is also mentioned in Nehemiah and it means something like Valley of the craftsmen. There was a cluster of artisans, skilled worker in that place. 

2. The Egyptian Princess of verses 16-18 

We will leave verse 15 for now. 16-18 The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel. The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. One of Mered's wives gave birth to Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. It then adds that he also had a (... wife from the tribe of Judah who gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soko, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) As for Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah - These were the children of Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married. 

This picks up on a theme mentioned earlier - the way Gentiles were often drawn into the family of God's people, the Jews. Here another Egyptian. And no ordinary Egyptian - a princess, the daughter of a Pharaoh. 

3. The linen workers and potters of verses 19-23 

19-23 The sons of Hodiah's wife, the sister of Naham: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maakathite. The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth. The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lekah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth Ashbea, Jokim, the men of Kozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (These records are from ancient times.) They were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah; they stayed there and worked for the king. 

Here we seem to have another group of workers - linen workers who later became potters. They became rulers in Moab, perhaps in the time of David who ruled over Moab, but by the time of the exile they were humble potters working for King Nebuchadnezzar. 

It is good to be reminded of the dignity of work - crafts, weaving, pottery. The Greeks despised manual work but the Jews did not and we should not either. There is a dignity in it. Paul writes to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12) ... make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 

On the other hand, it is tempting for some to despise the rich and powerful. We should not. God has his people among the aristocracy as well as among the workers. In the 18th century Selina, Countess of Huntingdon was a true believer and a powerful force for good. In the 19th century Ashley Cooper, Lord Shaftesbury, was a similar force for good. Pray for such people today. 

2. Lessons from the brothers Othniel and Caleb and other descendants of Judah (11-13, 15) 

Hebrews 11 the gallery of the faithful mentions the faith of many Old Testament saints. Here are two it does not directly mention 

1. Learn from enterprising Othniel

We have another wad of names in verses 11-13 Kelub, Shuhah's brother, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, (a place) Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash (another place). These were the men of Rekah. The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai. 

The name of Othniel stands out because he was the first of the judges or leaders of Israel mentioned in Judges. First Judges 1:12-15 tells how Caleb son of Jephunneh said "I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage. There is also an extra little bit about how she came to Othniel, urging him to ask her father for a field. It then describes her getting off her donkey and Caleb ask(ing) her what he could do for her. Her reply "Do me a special favour. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. 

Judges 3:8-11 tells how when The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, .. the Israelites were subject to him for eight years. But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them. It says The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died. 

Othniel then was a man filled with the Spirit who was enterprising and ambitious in a good sense and saw victory over his enemies leading to peace for many. Pray that God will fill you with the Spirit and with zeal and use you to be a blessing like him. 

2. Learn from fearless Caleb

In verse 15 we read about Othniel's older brother Caleb The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz. Two main places speak about Caleb

Numbers 13, 14. There we read how 12 spies were sent by Moses to spy out the Promised Land. The majority report said it was too difficult to take the land. The minority report from Joshua and Caleb took the opposite views. Caleb said to the people (Numbers 13:30ff) We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. But the men who had gone up with him said, We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are. .... 

In 14:6ff we read how Joshua ... and Caleb... tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them. But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. .... 

As a result of this that whole generation, apart from Joshua and Caleb, is told that it will never see the land God promised on oath to their ancestors. God says No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. ... Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived. 

Joshua 14 and 15

14:6ff Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb ... said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was 40 years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for 45 years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, 85 years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said." Then Joshua blessed Caleb ... and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb ... ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) .... 

Joshua 15 In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah - Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites - Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 

Then we have the story in Judges mentioned before. 

Here is another great example for us then. He had a different spirit to that of his contemporaries and follow(ed) God wholeheartedly. Am I a wholehearted follower of Christ? Am I rejecting the spirit of the age ad seeking to serve the Lord as keenly as I can? 

3. Lessons from Jabez a man of prayer and other descendants of Judah (1-10) 

1. Learn from these descendants of Judah 

The chapter begins The descendants of Judah: then partly repeats from Chapter 2 Perez, Hezron, Karmi, Hur and Shobal. Although this may be a different Karmi. 

He then says (2) that Reaiah was the son of Shobal and was the father of Jahath, and Jahath the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. That is to say the people who lived in Zorah, also mentioned in Chapter 2. 

In 4:3 we read that These were the sons of Etam: (a place name) Jezreel, (may be another) Ishma and Idbash. Their sister was named Hazzelelponi. There is a Jewish tradition that Hazzelelponi was married to Manoah and was the mother of Samson. 

4-8 Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah (both a place name and a woman married to a Caleb, 2:19) and father of (place names again) Bethlehem. Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah. The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, and Koz, who was the father of Anub and Hazzobebah and of the clans of Aharhel son of Harum. 

Whenever we read of Bethlehem, we think of the birth of the baby Jesus. This is the background to his family and birthplace. Praise his name. 

2. Learn from Jabez the man of prayer 

9, 10 Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. 

It is not clear where Jabez fits into the family tree but what is said about him is full of interest. 

1 His name and how he came by it

Not unusually Jabez's name was given to him by his mother. She called him that because she said I gave birth to him in pain. Because of the curse, childbirth usually involves pain. This must have been a particularly traumatic birth. Perhaps it was like the birth of Benjamin. Rachel, as she died, wanted to call him Benoni, son of my pain, but Jacob decided on Benjamin, son of my right hand. Whether Jabez's mother lived we don't know. If she did his name became a reminder to her to be thankful to God for his support at that pressing time. It also acted as a reminder to Jabez and all who met him of the fallen nature of this world and the troubles it brings. Perhaps it was a reminder too of the need to comfort all who are sorrowing. 

Certainly we must never forget that we are in a fallen world and people need comfort. 

2 Jabez's notable character

He was more honorable than his brothers. By his grace and in his providence God honoured him more than any of his brothers. Yes, there was sorrow at his birth but that was outweighed by the blessing that he knew as he grew older. We do not know any details but Matthew Henry points out that back in 2:55 it says that Jabez was the name of the town where the clans of scribes ... lived. Perhaps the town was named for him. The other likelihood is his piety as we know he was a man of prayer. As Henry observes "The way to be truly great is to be truly good and to pray much."

Let's forget our sorrows and seek to honour God in whatever way we can. 

3 Jabez's prayer. Presumably this was a prayer he prayed early in life. He sought to acknowledge God in all his ways and put himself under God's blessing and protection. That was the secret of his prosperity. The writer may have in mind a particular prayer or (more likely) how he prayed daily 

• Who he prayed to. It was not some vague prayer to a vague deity. It was not to any pagan God but he cried out to the God of Israel to the true God, the God of the Jews. When you pray, always pray to him.
• How he prayed. He cried out we are told. There was real fervency in it. Oh, he prayed Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! He expresses himself in such a way that he promises to give himself to God and his service, if he will only hear hi
• What he prayed. He prayed for four things 

That God would truly bless him. Oh, that you would bless me ... he prayed. Perhaps he was thinking of the promise of God to Abraham (Genesis 22:17) I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

In particular he prayed that God would enlarge my territory! He wanted his territory to grow. In a similar way, we should be praying that we will live in a more Christian way - that our lives will be filled more and more with the things of God. 

He prayed too Let your hand be with me, .... He wanted to know God's power at work in his life. he wanted God's protection and strengthening. Pray too for this.

Finally he prayed and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. His name was Jabez but he was not a fatalistic type who thought - what can I expect but pain? No, he prayed "Lead me not into temptation", "Deliver me from evil". That is how we should be praying too. 

4 The success of his prayer. And God granted his request. God gave him more than he asked for and he became more honourable than his brothers. God loves to answer the prayers of his children