Jabez and Prayer

At the moment my family and I are reading through 1 Chronicles, a book heavy with genealogies.  Because the names can be a mouthful and sound foreign to English speakers the temptation might be to skip them.  Even in genealogies there are some delightful insights, like Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10:  "Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." ¹⁰ 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."

The Strong's Concordance defines the name "Jabez" as "to grieve, sorrowful."  The birth of Jabez was painful, yet out of pain was borne great blessing because he called on the God of Israel.  He prayed believing and God granted him what he requested.  Jabez is mentioned here because he was more honourable than his brothers, yet his prayer was answered because God is good and gracious.  The prayer uttered by Jabez is not to be viewed as a formula to obtain blessing from God, but all who call on the God of Israel will surely be blessed.  Even those who do not call upon God or acknowledge God's existence have been unknowingly blessed by God without measure.

Jabez called out to God and asked for the blessing of His presence.  Jabez was so named because his mother bore him in pain, but he did not want to be a pain.  Through God's answer to his prayers he was kept from evil and was not defined by his name.  I praise God He answers prayers not to rise above a bad name but to shed our sinful nature by being born again through faith in Jesus.  In a moment the one who repents of sin and trusts in Jesus Christ as Saviour has a new identity and infinite blessing which endures forever.  This is God's will for everyone:  to know, trust, and dwell with Him always.

Many people hope for utopia or enduring peace on earth, but until Jesus Christ in judgment peace will remain a mirage.  Those who receive Christ now are not guaranteed land ownership on earth but a place in heaven where righteousness dwells.  By the grace of God He is not only with us but has made us His dwelling place.  Jesus has redeemed us from the power and penalty of sin, having provided wisdom, guidance, and strength to walk uprightly in a world full of sin.  In this world we will experience pain and suffering, yet one day all things will be made new and our eyes wiped free of every sorrowful tear.  We do not need to wonder if God will answer this prayer, and it is not only the "more honourable" God will hear.  God will answer the humble heart that cries out in faith, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" can be justified right now and for all eternity.

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Praise the LORD, for all blessings come through Him.

Peace be Unto You

God's Word has the miraculous ability to sustain believers in trials.  There is no shortage of unwelcome and troubling news we receive, but a word from God draws our eyes to consider Him.  God knows what we need even before we ask, and He also knows exactly what we need to hear so we can say with the faithful, "I have been greatly helped."

Yesterday in the morning I read through John chapter 20 after Jesus rose from the dead.  Twice in the chapter Jesus addressed disciples who were afraid and did not believe, "Peace be unto you."  What a gracious, compassionate, and merciful thing to say!  They did not earn the right to experience this peace nor were they qualified by their courage.  They had fled from the presence of Jesus during His arrest and Peter denied even knowing Jesus.  Jesus kept the promise made previously in John 14:27 despite their folly:  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

God's peace is always for us, graciously provided for our benefit.  To experience the peace of God which passes understanding faith in Jesus Christ is required.  Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  As we lay aside worries and cast our cares upon Jesus because He cares for us the peace of God guards our hearts and minds.  Our feet are shod with the "preparation of the Gospel of peace" though the indwelling Holy Spirit, even as shoes protect bare feet from sharp or hot surfaces.  The Gospel gives us traction to stand.  Jesus has declared "Peace be unto you," and the wise walk in it.

David wrote in Psalm 28:6-7, "Blessed be the LORD, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! ⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him."  Recalling and receiving the words of Jesus personally when He said, "Peace be unto you" has carried me along throughout the day.  He didn't just say this to anyone but to the fearful, weak, confused, and overwhelmed--to people who followed Jesus who are a lot like me.  If God be for us, who can be against us?

Feeling Secure?

"And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure."

Judges 8:11

People these days go to great lengths to ensure the security of their homes, possessions, and identities.  Layers of identification help online banking and shopping transactions maintain high levels of safety and security.  For this reason it seems ironic Gideon was able to smite the host who encamped east of Nobah and Jogbehah when the scripture says, "...for the host was secure."  The NKJV sheds light on the situation:  "Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah; and he attacked the army while the camp felt secure." (emphasis mine)  Shaved Samson who said, "I will arise as at other times and free myself" and did not know the Holy Spirit had left him, faith in self--instead of God alone--makes us complacent and vulnerable.

Being secure and feeling secure are two different things.  Personally there is no tent that makes me feel secure, a thin wall of canvas or nylon separating me from the elements and wild animals.  This feeling of security made them vulnerable to attack.  Because they felt secure perhaps they weren't vigilant to keep watch at all hours, have their weapons at the ready, or devise a battle plan.  This passage provides insight into how our possessions or position in this world can lull us into a false sense of security:  a profitable career, sound health and mind, investments, and money in the bank can cause our faith in God to drift.  Since we feel secure with what the world can provide, what daily need do we have for God?

Jesus spoke a parable about the danger of covetousness in Luke 12:16-21:  "Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' ¹⁸  So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." ' ²⁰ But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' ²¹ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  The rich man in the parable had an abundance of food and possessions and felt secure concerning his future.  But in reality he was vulnerable because he had poverty of soul towards God.  He felt secure but did not realise that night God would require his soul.

Genuine fellowship with other believers in the reading and teaching of God's Word keeps us sharp and fit for our Master's use.  The rust of complacency which quickly forms on our faith in God often requires the friction of trials and difficulties to remove.  We need to feel insecure so we will seek God and cry out to Him for protection, provision, and help.  It is ironic much of our labours in this world is to provide feelings of security and independence which hinder a close walk with Jesus.  Praise the LORD as Proverbs 27:17 relationships with God and godly people works to prepare us to face unforeseen conflicts:  "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."  Only God provides security in this life and for all eternity.  Leaning on our own understanding brings false security, but all who place their faith in God can rest assured of His presence and provision for all things.

The Best Gift

There is something universally believed which is a big lie:  there is something on this planet which will provide enduring happiness.  The world and our flesh constantly reinforce the fantasy if our circumstances were different (and better!) we could be satisfied and at rest.  What people forget or are ignorant of is we live on an earth cursed with the consequences of sin.  The only true good news we could receive must come from beyond this world.

We are thirsty for good news and look everywhere to find it.  Like a person in pitch darkness trying to see beyond their nose, we strain to hear good news.  But the thing is, even when we do find welcome news it never lasts because nothing on earth does:  new things grow old, innovations become obsolete, every marriage will someday end, and good health always ends in death.  Seriously, think about it.  "All is vanity and grasping for the wind," said King Solomon after doing everything the richest man on the planet could do.  Solomon had fame, power, riches, and women.  He threw himself into building projects, religion, revelry, music, the arts, sex, alcohol, exotic collections, and possessions.  He sat on his ivory throne covered in gold and thought to himself, "Someday I'm not going to be here to enjoy the wealth and prosperity of this kingdom.  It's going to pass to others who won't appreciate it or even know my name."  And he was right.

Our hopes as human beings are firmly set in believing our circumstances are bound to change for the better:  if we work hard, when we acquire or make our first million, buy a house, have a romantic relationship, have a family and children we will have this feeling of inner peace and satisfaction.  We will have "made it," whatever that means.  But unlike dark clouds that have a silver edge, a positive to draw out of even the worst situation, in everything we long to obtain there are sinister, unseen, and painful heartaches we never counted on.  We like the idea of being famous and acknowledged for excellence, but few consider what it is like to not be able to go to the shops without being mugged for pictures or autographs.  People dream of winning the lottery but don't figure on people they love scheming to rob them of it.  And we are rarely satisfied:  like tattoos, plastic surgery begets more.  No one imagines they will experience complications or death for a common procedure or dentist visit, but it happens.

Into a world of dark hopelessness God in His mercy and grace sent the Light of the World.  We would have been temporarily happy with far less than this truly good news.  We would be ecstatic to hear a civil war ceased (that can start again) or a marriage has been restored (which will certainly one day end) or a health scare has been averted (which for us mortals is at best temporary).  God entered a world bound by time as a human being in the person of Jesus Christ to provide eternal life and hope for all who repent and trust in Him.  We can be adopted into the forever family of God when we respond to His call by being born again.  The hope Jesus brings is not like a carrot dangling in front of us--always out of reach that we cannot receive until our pilgrimage on earth is over--but is ours today and always!  Because of our weak frame and forgetfulness our affections and desires can drift from Jesus Christ, and then we begin to drown in a morass of cares, worries, and dissatisfaction.

About 2,000 years ago, the Messiah Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, wrapped in linen strips, and laid in a feeding trough for animals.  Into a hopeless and cursed world a Saviour was sent to seek and save the lost.  Birthday and Christmas gifts we receive will lose their shine and break, but the love of God demonstrated through Christ's life and sacrificial death for us continues regardless of our possessions or circumstances.  We will experience tough times and fiery trials, but our risen and living LORD Jesus Christ is with us every step as we follow Him forever.  Better than eternal life itself, Jesus truly is the best gift ever given.