Prayer of Jabez
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006I’ve recently started praying the Prayer of Jabez.. I can sense a lot of ppl going, "What the..?"
The prayer of Jabez is located in the Old Testament, 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. This book is actually like, " Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son,…" But in the middle of all this son of who and daughter of who; there was this passage dedicated to Jabez.
His mother gave him this name Jabez; meaning pain in Hebrew. Now pause for awhile; who would name her own child pain? I mean, imagine calling your son in the morning, "Wake up Pain! Time to go to school Pain!" Well, his mother named him pain because she gave birth to him in pain. Err.. I’m sure this speaks how well his mother viewed him.
During the Old Testament times, a name could make or break you. Even now, kids in the kindergarden would avoid a child who is called Pain. Last time, the name carried much significance to your future. When Jabez was small, he might have been taunted and teased. What impact that would make on his self-esteem, let alone his dreams and aspirations?
But this man did not view this as a hindrance, he prayed to the Lord…
"Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."
Last time, a man’s importance was in proportion to the amount of land he owns (enlarging his territory). Hence, Jabez wanted to be someone important in his community. Being an important person in community means you would be taken seriously in society (in this case, during discussions in the synagogue). So that means Jabez wanted to be an important person so that he could make a difference in God’s land.
The Lord’s hand being upon him also means he wants the Lord to be with him so that he will not lose his faith. When you have a lot (territory), you tend to be swayed by the pleasures of extra finances and forget to do your Christian duty to everyone. So, Jabez wasnt stupid; he knew that if he were to be blessed a lot, he would began to love money more than his God. So he prayed that God will constantly keep a hand on him so that he wont sway.
Lastly, the third part of his prayer asked God to free him from pain. Jabez didnt make his name determine his future. He asked God to help him. That shows the trust he has in God, knowing God can change his future.
In return of his faith to God, the last part of the verse shows ,"… and God granted his (Jabez’s) request."
God was pleased with his prayer, and God blessed him.
I’ve been praying this prayer for awhile.. Maybe a week or so. When an event enlarged my territory. My mother has been hospitalised once last December for a week. We have been praying for her speedy recovery. God has been gracious to grant her some progress. Then early this year she was admitted again for the same problem. I truly admire my mom, though she was in great pain, she still kept a cheerful outlook and can still find something to praise God about. She even encouraged me when she was hospitalised! Both my dad and I were going to and fro from home to the hospital to keep her company (you know how boring hospitalisation is). I realised what a Christlike person my mom is - all the more when I took a fuller responsibility over my grandmother.
My dad and I had to tend to my grandmother (who is physically able but has a fidgetty disposition) during this trying time. She panics when my dad or myself is not home by 9pm. She panics when there’s no food on the table (we cook coz she didnt know how to operate our gas stove). She panics when the cats are not back home to sleep. All in all, she’s always keeping us on our toes with her whims and fears.
Finally, the last enlargement of my territory would be the additional hospitalisation of my aunt. She stays at my house during the weekends and leaves for a home on other days. Sometimes she decides to stay longer. On this occasion when my mom was not well, she decided to stay longer. And it was this time when she fainted in her friend’s place. Naturally, her friend called the ambulance and my home. Both my brother and I carried her to the stretcher and the ambulance ppl took her to the hospital. We waited and waited and waited and waited. It was 5pm when she was admitted into the hospital’s emergency but it was 12am when she was warded *sceptical look*. Doctor said she was weak because she abstained from meat (thinking she could do good to help heal my mom. Her intentions were good but…). By 10 pm, she hadnt eaten anything for dinner and she was hungry; so we were called into the emergency to get food for her! We couldnt get anything at that time coz the canteens were closed; so we just got some bread and butter, biscuits, oats and milo. She rejected all the food except the oats but she refused to drink it without any sugar (we couldnt get any sugar at that time). The nurse managed to pester her to finish her food (much to our relief) and then she was warded.
So the following day, on Monday, I visited two patients in the hospital after work. My mother was in 3rd floor, my aunt in 2nd floor. So, my territory was enlarged wasnt it? Somehow, I felt a little bit of fear to continue on with the prayer coz I dont think I can handle anymore enlargements of territory. However, I know God wants to bless me, so I will carry on….
