Contented Blessing
Jabez called upon the God of Israel saying, “Oh that you would bless me . . .” 1 Chronicles 4:10 ESV
Bless – This word is barak. Examining it as a noun, we find that receiving a blessing in the Old Testament means getting something favorable from someone greater. The paradigm case is the transmission of a blessing from God to Man. Throughout the Old Testament, the central idea of God’s blessing is that bountiful life depends solely upon the goodness and faithfulness of God.
This verse is the basis of the popular book, The Prayer of Jabez. The secret behind the prayer of Jabez is really nothing hidden at all. From Genesis to Revelation, God makes it clear that He is the only real source of prosperity in all of its forms. Jabez speaks a simple prayer – “God, bless me” – but within that prayer is the acknowledgement and admission that God is the only one who can bless and that God blesses for his purposes, not ours. That’s why the prayer uses the verb barak, not the verb ashar. Barak is a God-only word. It is also a word that applies only to those who manifest hesed and ‘emet (faithfulness). In the Tanakh, God does not bless those who do not demonstrate worthiness. Ashar is a verb that expresses something we can do that brings about a state of bliss (cf. Psalm 1:1). Ashar is the verb of conditional blessing. You and I do something and a state of bliss follows. Not so with barak. There is nothing you and I can do that will compel God to bless me. He blesses because hen and hesed are who He is.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I saw a billboard on the side of a bus. It was an advertisement for a particular church. It said, “God wants to bless you. He wants to make you rich. You can have what you really want. Come and join us.” I always thought that this sort of blessing was ignorant and crass. God doesn’t run an investment firm. But later in life I realized that God does what He wants to do. If His purpose for you is that you become rich for Him, then I say, “Hooray!” There are very few people who can become rich and still bend the knee to God (by the way, that is the other meaning of the word barak). Who am I to say what God desires to do in your life? I know that I didn’t do a very good job of being His servant when my bank account was full, but maybe you’ll do better.
I understand the prayer of Jabez because I believe that God really does want to bless us. The matter to be settled is not on God’s side. It is on ours. The word “bless” also means “humility, service and bowing down.” The two go together. God may bless when you are completely ready to bow. But I don’t believe that The Prayer of Jabez offers any kind of success formula for life. After all, it is barak, not ashar. It’s not about what I do, not even about how I pray or the words I use. It’s about God’s sovereign purposes. Perhaps we need to add something to Jabez’s prayer. “God, bless me – in the way that You wish to – and I will be content.”
Topical Index: bless, barak, ashar, Jabez, 1 Chronicles 4:10
There must have been a reason for Yeshua to remind his listeners – and us – that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Thanks for the great word on “barak” today, and for the transparency and clarity you displayed in identifying with the sovereignty of our Father YHWH.
Shalom to you and yours.
Don B
I AM SO GLAD TO SEE THIS: “In the Tanakh, God does not bless those who do not demonstrate worthiness. Ashar is a verb that expresses something we can do that brings about a state of bliss (cf. Psalm 1:1). Ashar is the verb of conditional blessing. You and I do something and a state of bliss follows. Not so with barak. There is nothing you and I can do that will compel God to bless me. He blesses because hen and hesed are who He is.”
A CONDITIONAL BLESSING – WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE OURSELVES WORTHY – BOY THOSE THAT ALWAYS PULL OUT THE OL DO NOT JUDGE LEAST YOU BE JUDGED YOURSELF WILL NOT LIKE THIS ONE FOR SURE – THAT GREASY GRACE MINDSET WILL BE BLOWN TO PIECES ON THIS ONE…
Someone once asked our congregation, “How much money would God have to give you, for you to give away $100? $1,000?”. Well, this was just a simple offering appeal, but it got me thinking…. How safe am I to bless?
Lamsa’s Translation from the Aramaic of the Peshitta has a very different take on these two verses:
9 And one of them was dear to his father and to his mother, so they called his name Our Eyes.
10 And they said to him, the LORD shall surely bless you and enlarge your territory, and his hand shall be with you and shall deliver you from evil, that it may not have power over you, and he shall grant you that which you request of him.
I have an Arab friend who always called my daughter by that expression “Our Eyes” because she was so precious to him. This translation puts this as a blessing of Jabez’ parents to him, not a “gimme” from Jabez. I would love to know if any of your translations read like this one.
~ but godliness with contentment is great gain.. ~ (1 Timothy 6.6)
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And G-d granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4.10)
I too, have looked into the life of Jabez.. His name means affliction/sorrow/trouble. Strange name to give a kid.. nevertheless Jabez did not say “bless me” but rather bless me indeed!- Jabez wanted G-d to bless him mightily. How did YHWH bless him? ~ For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him ~ (Philippians 1.29) Suffering is a gift and a privilege? Yes, it is. ~ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation through sufferings ~ (Hebrews 2.10) ~ A student is not above his Teacher, nor a servant above his Master ~ (Matthew 10.24)
Wow!- Ask, and you will receive? “He who causes pain” cried out.. – This is no small potatoes.. This prayer was a heart-prayer, one that came from the core, the “inner man” of Jabez. Jabez knew who he was and what he needed. Jabez somehow knew He needed a Savior, a Deliverer. Perhaps, one day we also might follow the trail of tears, those who “cry out” to G-d and see “if” (there is no if!) G-d answers prayer. -Those who pray know the answer to this!
G-d has said (we do pay attention to His words, right?) “Ask and you will receive..” – but we must also remember “be careful what you ask for because you just might “get it!” lol!
What if? G-d (also) had to “break us” in order for Him to “bless us?” Do we remember Jacob? – who worshiped G-d, leaning on his staff? (Hebrews 11.21) A messenger of G-d, (an angel) touched him in the hollow of his thigh and Jacob no longer had a leg to stand on.. Jacob learned, the hard way, (just like most of us sheeple do) to lean upon the LORD.
Can you hear the music? “learning to lean, learning to lean..- I’m learning to lean on Jesus..” Me too, Jacob, me too. Bruised, broken, busted..- I too, am learning to lean. Why? – Because G-d is faithful.. Listen to me, those who are bruised and broken by the fall, and learn this, “not I- but Christ..” It ain’t me babe. No, no, and no. Don’t look at me, look at Him. Get it? Got it? Good.
Who is the Master and who is the servant? I have learned, have you? (Not to worry..- you will.) G-d will see to it. For He who has begun a good work in you will perform and perfect it.. G-d is big and I am little.. Hmm… He must increase, but “I” (too) must decrease? (John 3.30) Do you recognize these words and have you heard them before? If not, you do err, not knowing the scriptures (YHWH’s instructions to us) nor the power (authority, -all authority) of G-d. Did you know,..Have you heard? all authority belongs to Him?- in heaven AND in earth? (Matthew 28.18) Friend, would you believe me if I said- it does? Don’t take my word for it..- take His. Listen, (again, for the first time) to His words from His blessing book: “All authority has been given unto Me.. ” – Did He just say “all authority?” “has been given?” Why, I believe He did.. “I heard that..”
When we chasten a child, (never punish please!-), but chasten with a view or goal toward correction of behavior.. -when we apply the board of education to the seat of knowledge, somehow the string and sting of pain that penetrates has some sort of connective tissue to the ability of the ears to hear correctly. Hmmm..- maybe there is a blessing hidden within pain, – “I’m listening now Father.” Pain is our best teacher and “an attention getter.” – “The truth often (ouch!).” How many drills bits has my Father used to penetrate my titanium skull? lol! The strong-willed child? Me. G-d is quite capable of using anything from a feather to a sledge hammer- but praise His name, never ever uses anything more than what is necessary.. to gain our full and undivided attention.
Friends, (are you listening?- u still there?) When the student is ready.. the Teacher will show up. And Who is our Teacher? -(John 14.26) What do the scriptures say? (Romans 4.10) Do you want my opinion? – I’ll not give it. It is not what I have to say,- “but what do the scriptures say?” ..What does G-d have to say about this?- Why? Because my thoughts are not His thoughts and my ways are not His ways-(Isaiah 55.8) we imperatively must “shema” the scriptures- because the living words He speaks unto us (all scripture is alive and authoritative- (Hebrews 4.12) are spirit (breath) and they are life.
There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of G-d. A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of G-d.. Where is this place? It is not very far away. It is closer than we know.. It is “bow the knee”. ~ Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker: for He is our G-d and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. Today, if you hear His voice..(Psalm 95.8,7)
Jabez knew the where to go and Who to go to. He knew the Source of “every good gift and every perfect gift”. And there was yet Another who knew pain, (and caused pain..). A man of sorrows, and well-aquainted with grief.. He also, multiple times and on multiple occasions “cried out to G-d..” ~ And when He prayed.. – the heavens were opened..~ (Luke 2.21)
Blessing? “bow the knee.” Try it..- you’ll like it! I was born for this.. I was made to worship Him and so are you. “But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice..? -I do not know the LORD..” (Exodus 5.2) Not a happy ending for Pharaoh.. was it? – But what about Jabez? And did G-d answer his prayer?
~ Blessed is the nation whose G-d is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance ~ (Psalm 33.12)
May we agree with David? ~ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes ~ (Psalm 119.71)
~ and the G-d of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast ~ (1 Peter 5.10)