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, NKJV.
Dear God, the study of Your Word can bring about some wonderful changes in our lives. As we take the time to study, may Your blessed Holy Spirit be with us to enlighten us and to bless us. These mercies we ask in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We have come to the last part of the prayer of Jabez, and full circle in the development of the concept of our study, that – prayer can produce a change in our destiny. Let us spend some time looking at the last part of Jabez’s prayer: “. . . that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” You may remember that we started this study looking at the name that his mother gave him, and the reason for the name. You may also remember the literal meaning of the name, from the marginal reading of the NKJV: “He will cause pain.”
As Jabez brings his prayer to a close, his final request from God is for a change in his destiny. “Dear God,” he seems to be saying, “please keep me from wrong, that I will not fulfill the destiny that was ascribed to me at birth – to cause pain.”
This is the premise: Our prayers can change our behavior, and therefore, our destiny. In an effort to avoid doing evil, we need to avoid thinking evil – which eventually manifests itself, in evil deeds- that cause pain. Human beings were created to bring glory to God. Therefore, in the beginning, we were created with only a knowledge of good. After the entrance of sin, the Adversary took advantage of our newly acquired knowledge of evil, and used us to do his bidding. Thank God, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior from sin, and experience the new birth, we begin to develop a desire for doing good! Then day by day, as we continue in our relationship with the Savior – we are restored to the image of God!
I am fascinated with the study of the brain. One of my favorite books is Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. I go to it from time to time, and receive very valuable information, on how the different parts of the brain affect our behavior, and what are some of the things that we can do, to make the necessary changes. This book deals with behavior as it affects our day to day, interpersonal relationships. The emphasis is on changing unacceptable outward behavior.
My all time favorite piece of literature, the Holy Bible, is inspired by God, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Transcendent, Sovereign; and written by human beings. The Author of the Bible, is also the Creator of the brain. Therefore, I find it indispensable, in the study of the brain. It deals, not only with the evil manifested outwardly, but more importantly, the evil within.
While on earth, Jesus pointed out the importance of guarding our thoughts: ” ‘ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire . . . You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” ‘ ” (Matthew 5: 21, 22, 27, 28). Notice the progression in anger which could eventually lead to murder – and the lustful thought that could lead to adultery! It all begins with the evil within!
Jabez’s prayer was right on target. He went to the perfect Source, to the only One who could “deliver [him] from evil” (Matthew 6: 13b). And so can we. It is true that we were, “brought forth in iniquity, and in sin” we were conceived (Psalm 51: 5); but like Jabez, we are not destined to continue in sin and “cause pain” to the heart of God, to the ones we love, and to ourselves. Prayer changes things! And if in faith, we ask God to “be with [us] and keep us from evil that [we] may not cause pain,” I believe that it will be said of us, as it was said of Jabez – “So God granted [put your name here] what he [or she] requested.”
Pray fervently saints, pray earnestly – God delights in answering prayers that will bring Him glory, and blessing to us and to others. Sincere prayer can produce a change in your destiny and mine – that will do just that. So pray on!