ESOCS Devotional 30 October 2025 – A Christian’s Spiritual Heritage
MEMORY VERSE: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 KJV
TEXT: 1 CHRONICLES 4:1-31
The sons of Judah were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 And Reaiah the son of Shobal begot Jahath, and Jahath begot Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites. 3 These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi; 4 and Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah.
These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah the father of Bethlehem.
5 And Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 The sons of Helah were Zereth, Zohar, and Ethnan; 8 and Koz begot Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
11 Chelub the brother of Shuhah begot Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12 And Eshton begot Beth-Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-Nahash. These were the men of Rechah.
13 The sons of Kenaz were Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel were Hathath, 14 and Meonothai who begot Ophrah. Seraiah begot Joab the father of Ge Harashim, for they were craftsmen. 15 The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh were Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah was Kenaz. 16 The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. 17 The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. And Mered’s wife bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. 18 (His wife Jehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Sochoh, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) And these were the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.
19 The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and of Eshtemoa the Maachathite. 20 And the sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.
21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of the linen workers of the house of Ashbea; 22 also Jokim, the men of Chozeba, and Joash; Saraph, who ruled in Moab, and Jashubi-Lehem. Now the records are ancient. 23 These were the potters and those who dwell at Netaim and Gederah; there they dwelt with the king for his work.
24 The sons of Simeon were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul, 25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, and Mishma his son. 26 And the sons of Mishma were Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, and Shimei his son. 27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did any of their families multiply as much as the children of Judah.
28 They dwelt at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth Marcaboth, [s]Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.
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In today’s reading, we are reminded of our own spiritual heritage. The sons of Judah and Simeon were the eventual remnant of Israel. These descendants have clung to the land of their fathers throughout adversity and time, even until today. From these descendants, we can trace the family tree as it descends to a little town of Bethlehem, to Joseph, and his son, our Saviour Jesus.
After tracing certain family lines of Judah, Chronicles traces other members of the tribes of Judah and Simeon who returned from exile to settle in the land of Judah. From God’s inheritance for these two tribes, He reveals seven lessons regarding His blessings.
First, the tribe of Judah included a line of descendants that ran from Perez through Ashur. Like the other lines, this was a line that included sinners from beginning to end. Perez was the son of an incestuous union between Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar. Yet, despite their sins, God blessed this sinful line with His mercy and grace. Second, as part of God’s grace, He also rewarded the descendants of Judah when they demonstrated faith. This included Jabez, whom God rewarded for his faith. Third, this line of Judah also included obscure descendants that are no longer remembered. Fourth, the line of Judah also included heroes of the faith, like Othniel, Israel’s first judge or deliverer, and Caleb, who encouraged the Jews to take the Promised Land. God rewarded them for their faithful services. Fifth, the tribe of Simeon had no inheritance of a territory of their own because of their sins. Yet, Judah shared its land inheritance with Simeon. Both Judah and Simeon were blessed because Judah shared with its brother in need. Sixth, God blessed the members of the tribe of Simeon with lands within Judah to return from following the exile of the Jewish nation. Finally, some members of the tribe of Simeon acted in faith to seize the opportunity given to them by serving God and living righteously. For their faith, God blessed them with honours and lands. God can also bless you when you seize and use your spiritual inheritance for His glory.
Jabez was a man of honour—more honourable than his brothers—but apparently had not been raised with that reputation. Yet, he boldly asks for God to bless him, give him more territory and responsibility. He asks for God’s Spirit to be upon him so that he would not be sinful.
CHALLENGES
- What are you asking God to give you?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord, as with Jabez, enlarge my coast and abide with me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 1 Chronicles 2:11-24; Colossians 1:9:21; 2:1-10
ESOCS Devotional 30 October 2025
