y what they were. Both died in early adulthood. Solomon means “peace,” and sure enough, he became the first king of Israel to reign without going to war. A name that meant “pain” didn’t bode well for Jabez’s future.Despite his dismal prospects, Jabez found a way out. He had grown up hearing about the God of Israel who had reed his forefathers from slavery, rescued them form powerful enemies, and established them in a land of plenty. By the time he was an adult, Jabez believed and fervently hoped in this God of miracles and new beginnings.So why not ask for one?That’s what he did. He prayed the biggest, most improbable request imaginable: “Oh that you would bless me indeed…!”I love the urgency, the personal vulnerability of his plea. IN Hebrew, adding “indeed” to this prayer was like adding five explanation points, or writing the request in capital letters and underlining it.In my minds eye, I picture Jabez standing before a massive gate recessed into a sky-high wall. Weighed down by the sorrow of his past and the dreariness of his present, he sees before him only impossibility – a future shut off. But raising his hands to heaven, he cries out, “Father, oh, Father! Please bless me! And what I really mean is …bless me a lot!”With the last word, the transformation begins. He hears a tremendous crack. Then a groan. Then a rumble as the huge gate swings away from him in a wide arc. There, stretching to the horizon, are fields of blessings.And Jabez steps forward into another life.Blessing Is Not About SneezingBefore we can ask for God’s blessing with confidence, we need a clear understanding of what the word means. We hear “bless” or “blessing” intoned from every pulpit. We ask God to bless the missionaries, the kids, and the food we’re about to eat. It’s something Grandma says when she hea...
