The word Jabez is only mentioned three times
in the entire Bible...once in 1 Chronicles 3:55 as a place.
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the
Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hammath, the
father of the house of Rechab.
And it was mentioned twice as a name. In the Old Testament the names that
were given to the sons and daughters were of great importance. Jabez, realizing
that his mother had given him a name that could and probably would bring him
sorrow, asked God to please bless him instead of curse him because of his name.
He did not want to be a curse but a blessing...and he asked for the blessing to
be upon himself and God granted his wish.
1 Chronicles 4
9. And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his
name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10. 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.
In The Prayer of Jabez
by Bruce Wilkinson (p.21) it states: ....the heaviest burden of Jabez's name was
how it defined his future. In Bible times, a man and his name were so intimately
related that "to cut of the name" of an individual amounted to the same thing as
killing him. A name was often taken as a wish for or prophecy about the child's
future. For example, Jacob can mean "grabber," a good one-word biography for
that scheming patriach. Naomi and her husband named their two sons Mahlon and
Cilion. Translation? "Puny" and "Pining." And that was exactly what they were.
Both of them died in early adulthood. Solomon means "peace," and sure enough, he
became the first King of Israel to reign without going to war. A name that meant
"pain" didn't bode well for Jabez's future."
Knowing that Jabez was, in verse 10, more honourable than his brethren must
have meant he was different or stood above them. He sought the Lord and asked
Him, "How can I help you or what can I do to bring You honor?" The Lord heard
him and made Jabez a blessing in himself. He was bright, strong, a hard
worker--and determined to overcome the curse of his name.
So Jabez asked God to bless him INDEED...with conviction he
asked...with determination he asked. He was convinced God would hear him
and answer him. He also asked God to further his inheritance or lands and goods,
(his coasts), and that God protect him and keep him from evil--not wanting his
name of meaning pain to be inflicted upon others. And Praise the Lord God
Almighty....He answered his prayer.
The moral of the story....ask, believing, regardless of the circumstances
upon you, whether put on you or brought upon you by someone else or yourself,
and the Lord God will respond. He knows and hears the urgency..the pleas..the
need...and the reason for the prayer. And if one is truly asking for
themselves...it is ok! Jabez's prayer was not a selfish prayer. He asked for
himself...so that he would not cause pain to others. But he also asked God to
bless him in material things (to enlarge his coast)...and He asked God to be
with him.
The Word declares that if we ask, believing, we will receive!!
There is a mighty lesson in these two verses....a powerful one. Why not try
praying it yourself--with conviction!!
|
