THE PRAYER OF JABEZ

The Prayer of Jabez

"And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 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. (I Chronicles 4:9-10 KJV)

I have liked the Prayer of Jabez since before I knew how to say his name. Recently I came across an article that did not set right with my Spirit. I am including a few lines to let you see what they said.

"It is true that God hears the prayers of His saints, but there is no guarantee that He will always answer them in a way consistent with our desires. ...what happens if God doesn't answer when we pray the prayer?... there is no presentation of the gospel in the book and no differentiation between believer and non-believer. ...what if God's plan for a person is different from what they asked for in prayer? In nearly all English translations but the New King James Version, "keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."

As I read and reread the Prayer of Jabez the first thing that stood out to me is Jabez did not ask what he wanted to be blessed with. Nor did he ask how much to enlarge his territory. He asked that God keep His hand on him, keep him from evil so it will not grieve him. Now any Christan knows that when we do evil it grieves our spirit man.

But why I ask myself does this article come across that this prayer is not for us to pray. Yes God does answer all our prayers, just not the way we would have Him do so. Thankfully He knows better than to let us win the lottery, if He knows all we will do is pay off all the debts of our friends, and then they will look at us, not at God. Yes Virginia God does answer all prayers, sometime he says NO.
What happens when we do not get the answer we pray, then we continue to pray and believe. And with this prayer I don't see anything bad being prayed.

Next he says there is no presentation of the gospel in the book and no differentiation between believer and non-believer. Now the writer is speaking of the book that was wrote called "The Prayer of Jabez" good for them whatever they believe for now they have some truth and it might, this one prayer, lead them to the Lord and the truth.

Last is the other translations, oh people this is why we have to be careful. Read this and think on it "keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." Jabez is not saying he does not want physical pain that he does not want to be sick. But even if you want to read that then may I suggest that in that translation it means the same as I wrote above. It grieves our spirit, it pains us to do evil.

This is a simple unselfish prayer. God heard him and answered him. I have a strong feeling God knew exactly what to bless him with. Does this prayer belong to Jabez. Yes it is his prayer, his request of the Lord. Can it belong to us? Why not.
Remember the Old Testament is a preparing ground for the New Testament. Now read this prayer.

Matthew, Chapter 6: 9-13 (KJV).
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Now read the Prayer of Jabez again.

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. (I Chronicles 4:9-10 KJV)

Both are calling on the name of God, one says bless me, the other says give me my daily bread. One says keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me, the other says forgive us as we forgive, and lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil.
Take the time to look at the two scriptures. Both prayers belong to us. Pray today that God will indeed.

Bless you.
rECj/LJG