The Prayer of Jabez

by Bruce Wilkinson

The book is named for the prayer Jabez speaks in I Chronicles 4:9-10. You mean you haven't heard of Jabez? Why, he was the most prominent man in... Okay, well maybe not. In the middle of a list of genealogies, we find an interesting little passage that still has me baffled. The passage reads:

And Jabez was more honorable then his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, "Because I bore him with pain." Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying "Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And the Lord granted him what he requested."

After reading his prayer, one might say it is selfish and God would not hear such a prayer. However, the end of the verse says the Lord granted him what he requested! Is it possible the Lord wants us to be selfish in our prayers? In this book, Bruce Wilkinson lays down a good foundation on which to think about these things.

You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. (Jas. 4:2, my emphasis).

Jesus even promises us that if we ask we will receive (Matt 7:7). He of course does not say ask God for a Porsche or a big house or anything else frivolous. God wants to bless his children sometimes we do not let him. This little book has gold nugget you can't afford to miss.

Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him? (Matt. 7: 9-10).

Editors
Standing-Alone.com

The Editors do not advocate everything taught by the authors of the books we review. Like us, these authors are falliable humans and those who choose to read these books should measure them by the bible, the one true standard.