Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed

"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested" (1 Chron. 4:9-10).

Among all the genealogy listed in First Chronicles the writer pauses to give a brief testimony about Jabez. Part of that testimony was that Jabez stood out as an honorable man in his generation. What made Jabez the great man that he was? It is said of him that he "called on the God of Israel." Jabez was bold in prayer. He was not only bold but he was very specific in his prayer to God. He prayed for God to expand his territory, (influence) for protection and for God's hand (strength) to be with him. And specifically it is said that God granted his request.

“Jabez's prayer reminds us of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of Israel, who also had a breakthrough time of prayer with God one day. One night Jacob wrestled with God-in-the-form-of-a-man and afterward uttered a sentence that has inspired many people throughout the centuries to fervently seek God for more. As the man sought to leave, Jacob responded, "I will not let you go unless you bless me"(Genesis 32:26). This kind of passionate, desperate prayer is definitely out of vogue today. Maybe that's the reason we experience so little divine blessing on both the church as a whole and her individual members. So often we seem content with the status quo rather than reaching out for more of God. Because of this, we seem to have little effect on the world around us. The sad truth is that most of our churches experience relatively few conversions. Instead, we grieve over large numbers of wayward children, a growing tide of divorce, and increased addiction to pornography. All these afflict the church itself — yet even this host of ills can't seem to stir us up enough so that we cry out to God, even wrestling with him if necessary, to secure supernatural help from heaven” (Jim Cymbala).

We will never stand out in our generation as being blessed of God unless we are men and women of bold and fervent prayer. We will not conquer greater territory for God, we will not experience God’s protection and strengthening hand unless we first and foremost labor in unceasing prayer until God pours out His blessing upon us. Neither Jabez nor Jacob was content to live without God’s blessing. I believe that the reason that many churches and Christians are living their lives without God’s supernatural blessings upon them is that they have accepted a life without it. As long as we are satisfied to live apart for God’s blessing we will not experience God’s blessings.

"We read in the biographies of our forefathers, who were most successful in winning souls, that they prayed for hours in private. The question therefore arises, can we get the same results without following their example? If we can, then let us prove to the world that we have found a better way; but if not, then in God's name let us begin to follow those who through faith and patience obtained the promise. Our forefathers wept and prayed and agonized before the Lord for sinners to be saved, and would not rest until they were slain by the Sword of the Word of God. That was the secret of their mighty success; when things were slack and would not move they wrestled in prayer till God poured out His Spirit upon the people and sinners were converted" (Oswald J. Smith).

Oh that we would pray to God like Jabez saying, "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed."