The Prayer of Jabez

The Prayer of Jabez In one of the least pleasant books to read in the Bible, and it is that for the simple fact that reading Chronicles becomes a tedious exercise and uneventful effort to keep up with so many names and peoples; but in the fourth chapter we find two interesting verses - I Chronicles 4:9-10: “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.” After that, the Holy Text continues with another five chapters of names and tribes… This morning I would like to explore with you a little about the “Action that Moved God” in light of what is called the Prayer of Jabez. We will rapidly review 1. What is Prayer, 2. How to pray, and 3. The result of Prayer. I. What is Prayer? Before we go to that, it is important for us to get to know the little the Bible says about Jabez: The Bible tells little of him, but a town in Judah is named after him. From there, according to the Jewish Tradition, came a very influential family of scribes. It is believed that the patriarch of this family was Jabez. Now, the name Jabez (yabetz - sorrow). And in the introduction of this person, the Bible says he was different of his brothers (kabad - honourable, heavy, burdensome), and that at his birth, his mother called him “The one who causes Suffering”, because “I bore him in pain”. In the Near-East cultures, the name meaning dictates the behaviors and the expectations of the name bearer. Jacob - The deceiver; Isaac - He Laughs; Abram - Exalted Father; Abraham - Father of Multitude. We do not have details of Jabez’ childhood, but his name was a constant reminder of the grief he caused. Until he decided to change that. In the movie Pulp Fiction a definition for Miracle is given: “Is when God makes the impossible, possible.” Jabez might have felt that he could not release himself of the traditional expectations and the burden of his origins, but he wanted to be released from the suffering it was expected from him. “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying...” That is prayer. Is to call upon the God of Israel and open your heart to him. “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend… Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.” Steps to Christ, 93. According to many theologians, in the Bible we have prayer as expressions of Adoration, Thanksgiving, Intercession and Appeal. Some even say that an effective prayer must contain all these elements… II. How to pray? ‘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!’ In the prayer of Jabez, we can see that he is asking the God of Israel for four things: 1. Recommitment of Blessings, 2. Increase of Opportunities, 3. Supernatural Protection, 4. Keep him from evil - changing his life. “He who repents of his sin and accepts the gift of the life of the Son of God, cannot be overcome. Laying hold by faith of the divine nature, he becomes a child of God. He prays, he believes. When tempted and tried, he claims the power that Christ died to give, and overcomes through His grace. This every sinner needs to understand. He must repent of his sin, he must believe in the power of Christ, and accept that power to save and to keep him from sin. How thankful ought we to be for the gift of Christ’s example.--The Review and Herald, Jan. 28, 1909.” Praying must be followed by a serious commitment for changing the lives. Some people pray for forgiveness of sins, but do not try to overcome sin. Some people pray to be guarded from temptation, but decide every day to be exposed to the same... The celebrated William Ewart Gladstone used to tell friends about a neighbor’s little girl who really believed in prayer. Her brother had made a trap that caught little sparrows and she prayed that it might fail. Suddenly for three days her face was radiant when she prayed and her absolute faith in the futility of the trap was so noticeable that her mother asked: “Julia, how can you be so positive?” She smiled, “Because, dear Mama, I went out three days ago and kicked the trap to pieces.” Some elements to remember when we pray: Watch out for the “Vain Repetitions” - Jesus when was given the model prayer, he mentioned clearly that senseless words used only to embellish the language should not be used… Matthew 6:7. “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” The size of the prayer - Sometimes we like to associate level of spirituality with the size of the prayer… Ecclesiastes 5:2. “Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.” Some qualities are expected that lead to effective prayer: Humility - The Pharisee and the Publican - Luke 18:9-14; Obedience - I John 3:22. “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” Some Hindrances to Prayer: Sin - Isa. 59:2. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” Disobedience - Zec. 7:13. “Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts.” Selfishness - James 4:3. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Injustice - Proverbs 21:13 “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, Will also cry himself and not be heard.” Lack of Faith - James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. A ship in distress off the Canadian coast, with its fresh water supply completely exhausted, sent out an S.O.S. for fresh water. The reply came back immediately: “Let your buckets down.” They had sailed into the fresh waters of the River St. Lawrence. III. The result of prayer We have to understand, above all, that prayer makes us comprehend more the Lord we serve, to get to know closely the God we worship, to appreciate more the person who we pray for, to value more the blessing asked for. “What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of his children an yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God.” Steps to Christ, 94. God is willing to know you, to answer to you and strengthen you. He wants you to have the best for your life… Dr. Walter Wilson and a missionary friend were praying for a car which was greatly needed for the missionary’s work in Africa. The missionary prayed, “O God, You know how badly I need a car for my work. Do, Lord, send me a car. Any kind of an old, ramshackle car will do!” Dr. Wilson interrupted. “Stop praying that way, brother! God is not in the junk business!” “Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing.” Steps to Christ, 93. Chapter 11. In the life of Jabez, “...God granted him what he requested.” And if the Jewish tradition information is true, Jabez became so great, that 1,000 years after his life ended, Esdras writing the list of the people of Judah, Jabez was mentioned with distinction, and with no need of introduction. Everyone knew who Jabez was… The result of prayer is the response of an appeal, is the satisfaction of putting the needs of others first, is to express gratitude for all aspects of life, is to recognize the greatness and power of our God. Bring to God your needs today. Talk about the ones that may have hurt you, or ask for the ones that still need to accept Him. Carry them to the Lord. Open your heart in thanksgiving for the blessings He bestows. Worship him in praise and adoration. Because He is your God, the God that heals and saves His people. Between 1524 and 1526 in Germany, it became known as the Peasant’s War the popular revolt of the common people agains the Catholic Church, after the reform of Martin Luther. In one occasion the Town of Weinsberg was surrounded and was about to be burned down and all the people would be taken as prisoners, except the woman. That was when the woman requested that they could take their most valuable possessions with them. Authorization was granted, and the conquerers of that city become astonished when they saw all woman of Weinsberg extryaeffortedly carrying their husbands, children and brothers on their backs.