The Prayer Of Jabez

Whose hand Is On Your Shoulder?

--- [ I Chronicles 4:9-10 ]  Jabez was honored more than his brothers; and his mother named him Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain."  Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me form hurt and harm!" ---NRSV

Dear friends, grace and peace be unto from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ.  Amen.

We continue today our study of the prayer of Jabez: “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.'  And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!' So God granted him what he requested." (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

The key words of this passage of scripture are the last ones: “So God granted him what he requested."  This is why millions of people are studying this prayer.  It was a prayer that pleased God and thus He accepted and honored it.

We have learned so far that Jabez began life under great challenges and tough circumstances.  His name means pain and suffering.  Every time his name is mentioned it is as though he is reminded, “I am a born loser.”  Yet, in the midst of this emotional pain and turmoil Jabez cries out for the eternal purposes of God for his life - “Oh, that you would bless me.”

Last week we examined the phrase “and enlarge my territory.”  Jabez realized he was born for more than his present circumstances indicated.  He wanted “to live large for God.”  He realized that God must be a total partner in all of his life.

Today we are looking at the words, “ …that Your hand would be with me.”  This is a prayer that recognizes the need for divine empowerment as one goes through life. 

JABEZ KNEW WHERE HIS HOPE LAY – IT LAY WITH GOD. And so he prayed, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me…"

The book by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson upon which this series is based has become so popular that it has captured the attention of the New York Times Book Review.  They had a full-page article on it sometime back.  In the article Dr. Wilkinson makes it clear that it is our mission and ministry that God wants to enlarge - not our car selection from a Ford Mercury to a Mercedes Benz.  It is not about titles to a car but a testimony of a God-driven life.  

This is so important.  I hope we have ears to hear this lesson for us.  Dr. Wilkinson writes that the most exhilarating miracles in his life have always started with a bold request which he has made that God would use him in some dramatic way to expand God’s kingdom.  This must be our personal cry and our corporate cry as a congregation.  

Dr. Wilkinson says the when you take little steps you don’t need God.  It’s when you thrust yourself into the mainstream of God’s plan for this world, which is beyond our ability to accomplish, and plead with God, “Lord use me - give me more ministry for you,” that miracles are released.

The late Mother Teresa began an orphanage with a dream and three pennies.  She believed this orphanage was God’s dream given to her, and as she went forward in faith - miracles and resources were unleashed.  This is the order of God’s work – never the opposite.  As God’s chosen sons and daughters, we, too, are expected to attempt something large enough for God that failure is guaranteed unless God steps in.  If we don’t step forward in faith God will not release the resources.  Our prayer must be, “Increase our faith” so that we might move forward so God can release the resources for His work.  This is how He works.

JABEZ KNEW THAT HE HAD TO BE TOTALLY DEPENDENT UPON GOD.  If he were ever able to make anything significant of his life God had to be in it.  Many saints of God - people like Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, Wesley and Martin Luther - have somehow been able to hang on to this same principle.  The reason these folks were so successful in their ministries is that they never lost sight of their need for God’s hand on their lives - guiding them and protecting them.

Jabez asked God to bless him and to enlarge his territory.  Then he asked God to lead him.  Jabez knew he dared never to become independent of God.  It is one thing for a son or daughter as they grow to become somewhat independent of the family circle, but children of God can never move away from dependence on God. As Bruce Wilkinson states, “The second you’re not feeling dependent is the second you have backed away from truly living by faith.” 

The central problem at the heart of the human condition is that we forget our dependence on God.  This is the message of the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  "Go ahead, Eve," says the serpent, "surely God would not mind just a bite from the fruit on the forbidden tree.  Go ahead, help yourself.  No need to ask God for any direction or guidance.  Go ahead, Adam.  You are grown ups.  It is time to cut the apron strings.  It's your life.  Do with it as you please." 

And we have heeded the serpent's enticements in every generation since.  When will we realize that we were created for freedom, but not independence?  We are God's children.  We are God's family.  Remember Jesus said, “I am the vine - you are the branches.”  We are connected.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was one of the most effective and creative pastors of the 20^th century.  Dr. Peale had an effective technique that he used when counseling someone in distress.  First, he let the troubled person tell their story.  Every little detail was hashed out.  But after the person had explained his or her problem, then Dr. Pealed asked the person to sit in silence for a full three minutes and think of nothing else but Jesus.  Just Jesus.  This was the moment, Dr. Peale said, when they were to switch their focus from the problem to the power.  “No matter what your problem might be,” said Dr. Peale, “Jesus has the power to help you.”  He testified that usually, after these three minutes of thinking time, the person being counseled would have an answer to his problem.

This is what Jabez knew he had to do constantly.  He had to switch life from his hands to the high and holy hands of God.  Then God would gladly provide direction. 

A few months ago in New Jersey, a state trooper noticed that a man failed to use his directional signal when attempting to pass another car at a high speed on the Jersey Turnpike.  He turned on his siren and pulled up alongside the driver only to discover that the man was not talking on just one cell phone, but two - one for each ear.  

This is a great picture of the spiritual challenge of our time.  We talk and listen to everybody except God.  Jabez knew this was a recipe for disaster.  So he placed his trust in God to guide his life.  “Your hand be upon me!”

As followers of Jesus, you and I trust in the promises of the Gospel.  We know that behind the promises is our everlasting, sure and faithful God.  It is because we are connected to God in our Baptism, Faith and through Holy Communion that we are able to do far more than we would be able to do under our own power.

Jabez turned to God to make his life right.  He prayed, "that Your hand would be with me."  He knew that he was nothing without God.  He knew the importance of staying connected to God.  And God granted him his request.