DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- EFFECTIVE PRAYER

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – EFFECTIVE PRAYER

"Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' 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."(I Chronicles 4:9)

Like a hidden jewel buried in these chapters of genealogy is the name Jabez. It is an encouraging thing that God has included Jabez in His Holy Word. Jabez seems out of place here. There is no record of his family or parentage. We know almost nothing about the man. There is no other reference to Him in Scripture. All that we know is what we read in this text.

He seemed to come from nowhere, and there are no great accomplishments listed. He is not a Moses or Joshua. He is an ordinary man with ordinary problems and desires. He is a common – yet uncommon – man tucked away in this list of genealogies almost as an after-thought. Yet, we do know some things about Jabez.

What we do know is that he more honorable that the rest of his his family. Jabez was a man of integrity. He could be trusted. You could count on Jabez. His word was good.

Jabez had a painful life. The name Jabez means sorrow or grief – one who causes pain. Perhaps his mother had a hard delivery. Or perhaps she was sorry because she did not want any more children, and he grew up unwanted. How would you like to hear people say, "Here comes Jabez. He's a real pain." But Jabez did not want his life to be defined as a man of grief and pain. Perhaps his painful life was what caused him to not only pray for God's blessing, but also that he would not cause pain to others.

Jabez is known exclusively because of his prayer. Perhaps some of you have read "The Prayer of Jabez" by Bruce Wilkinson. He prayed intelligently – "He called on the God of Israel." He prayed fervently – "Oh that You would bless me indeed." He prayed ambitiously – "Enlarge my territory." He prayed specifically – "Oh that Your hand would be upon me and keep me from evil so that I would not cause pain." We know that he prayed effectually because – "God granted his request."

His prayer could be a pattern for the prayers of us nobodies who may be in a world of pain. We know that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16b). God can accomplish great thing through us nobodies. So let's pray.

Love, Dad