Lord of Israel – 10

Lord of Israel – 10

Prayer of Jabez

I Chronicles 4:10 “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 above verse we see the God of Israel hears the prayer of Jabez and grants his request. Interestingly, the prayer and the answer lies in the same verse. The payer of Jabez was so appealing and pleasing in the sight of the Lord. We read in the passage that his request was granted as soon as he finished his prayer. One of the key reason why Jabez’s prayer was answered instantly is due to its approach. We see Jabez personally prayed for his life. He made it a point to directly communicate with the Lord in his prayer. Due to his personal prayer the hand of the Lord of Israel answers his prayers and blessed him. Let us meditate on how the Lord of Israel transformed the life of Jabez through his prayer.

Change

I Chronicles 4:10 “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.”

            When Jabez began to pray, his life was in a different shape. He had his own problems in his family and was in a sorrowful state. In I Chronicles 4:9 ‘and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.’ We see Jabez was names after the pain that his mother had to go through while she gave birth to him. She named hi Jabez just to recall the pain she had in the past. His very own mother brought sadness in his life by naming him as Jabez. We must never transfer our pains to our children. We need to be very careful when we name our children. Our bitter experiences in the past must never influence our children.

Though Jabez was names out of sorrow, the God of Israel changed his life. When Jabez ends his prayer, his life had a transformation. His prayer brings in a massive change in his life. Just as he prayed, the Lord of Israel blessed him by widening his coast and his hands protected him from all evil. Even in our lives, we might be given into circumstances but when we submit everything in our personal prayer, the Lord of Israel is faithful enough to change it upside down.

Exaltation

I Chronicles 4:9 “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren”

            The prayer of Jabez not only brings in a change but also makes him more dignified before his brothers. He becomes more honourable person than his brothers. Theologians say that Jabez’s brothers hated and persecuted him. They also claim that Jabez should be around thirty to forty year old during this incident. Despite of all hatred and persecutions, the Lord of Israel exalts Jabez. In the Bible, just to strike a comparison the Lord exalts him more than his brothers. People that hated Jabez were never exalted by the hands of the Lord. It is due to his sheer submission in prayer that exalted him. Even in our lives, lack of prayer could be a reason why our exaltations are delayed. When we submit ourselves in prayer with all our heart, the God of Israel is faithful to answer us.

Blessing

I Chronicles 4:10 “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.”

            Before Jabez could pray, he had no blessings in his life. He was given into family issues and he had a troubled life. But his prayer opens the gateway of blessings. It is really overwhelming to see how his entire problems were changed in just two verses in the bible. All his family issues were sorted by his simple prayer. Earlier it was only sorrows that were evident in his life but after his prayer it was only the blessings that were reflecting out. The life which was once cursed and signified sorrow becomes a life of prosperity. This is the blessing of his prayer. When we the children of Lord submit ourselves in prayer, the Lord of Israel is faithful enough to deliver us and bless our lives. Therefore, let us all spend more time in prayer and let it please the God of Israel to work out mighty miracles in our lives. Amen.