An Answered Prayer
Our day began early. We got up at 2:30 a.m. and made last minute preparations before catching a 4:00 a.m. shuttle ride to DIA for our 7:00 a.m. flight to Orlando. The flight seemed to go well for the most part, I think I slept as much as possible. The rest of our day was spent navigating the car rental process and making our way to the resort.
Stephanie, Nathan and the kids will be arriving late tonight. We are looking forward to this week. I plan on making it somewhat of a “working vacation.” I hope to start with some content for potential chapters for a book.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, “Please do good things for me and give me more land. Stay with me, and don’t let anyone hurt me. Then I won’t have any pain.” And God did what Jabez had asked.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 NCV
We see many answers to prayer in the Bible, but none so briefly referenced as that of the “prayer of Jabez.” The reference to Jabez falls in a curious place in scripture. As the ancestry of Gods’ people is being reviewed, we come to somewhat of a “miscellaneous” section of references. In other words, there is no consistent tie between generations. At the beginning of chapter 4, there is a reference to Hur the eldest son of Caleb. Perhaps Jabez, as one commentator suggests, is tied to the city that bears his names that is mention in 1 Chronicles 2 as the home of some of Caleb’s descendants.
We know don’t know Jabez’s lineage, but the insertion of his life into these chapters about ancestors of Judah makes him of significance. What we do know is how he got his name. We know he was the most respected of his brothers and that he prayed and that the Lord answered his prayer.
His name like many in the Bible emerged out of his birth. His mother named him “Jabez, because she said, “I was in much pain when I gave birth to him.” (1 Chron. 4:9 NCV) Perhaps Jabez, like me, was born breach. This would have made the painful process of birth that much more intense and even life threatening for the mother.
It would have been difficult going through life with a name that is associated with pain. Names and the meanings of names can be significant. So for Jabez to gain greater honor that his brothers he had to be able to overcome a name that fought against a positive view of himself and life.
Jabez sought the Lord, when seeking the Lord wasn’t necessarily the norm of the day. When God’s people moved into the promised land they quickly were drawn away to worship false gods. But Jabez stayed true to and sought the blessing and favor of the Lord God.
He prayed for an “expanded territory.” That prayer in itself showed that he had a vision and plan for his life. He wasn’t willing to just settle for what he had in the Lord’s land, he was willing to go beyond what was expected, and allow the Lord to use him in an expanded manner.
Then he prayed, “Lord stay with me and protect me.” (Don’t let anyone hurt me). I’m glad Jabez wasn’t just willing to have God be with Him when he felt his need for Him. It appears that Jabez realized that to “make it” – to be all that I need to be, I need the Lord with me all the time.
These few verses about Jabez simply end, “and the Lord answered his prayer.” While we don’t know much about Jabez, it seems that his history was significant to Israel. That gives rise to the connection of his name with a prominent city of the day. Perhaps more than anything Jabez was known as one who God answered his prayer. His desire for an expanded territory and protection was not accomplished through his own power, strength, intellect or “working the system” of the day. It was found in seeking the Lord.
Much has been written about Jabez over the years. But perhaps the most basic lesson we need to remember is that the Lord does answer the prayers of those who honor him and seek Him….at all times. The Lord is able to allow a life that has a rough beginning to be one that is honored and remembered. It is interesting that a life that began associated with pain, ended as being identified as a place of safety, refuge and notable achievements. That is what can happen when the Lord answers prayer.