Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 05:16 (Dec 2001)
Article: A Critique of The Prayer of Jabez
Author: Mal Couch

CTJ 5:16 (December 2001) p. 360

A Critique of The Prayer of Jabez

Mal Couch

President & Professor of Theology & Languages
Tyndale Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX

In 2000, a little book by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson took the evangelical world by storm. This small 93 page hardback volume by Multnomah Publishers seemed to touch a certain felt-need that few books have done in recent years. The book received immediate response and won the Golden Medallion Award in 2001 from the Evangelical Press Association. From a popularity standpoint, the author must have done something right. Wilkinson is founder and president of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries that has a worldwide reach in helping people understand the unfolding plan of Scripture.

But what is going on? Does the book reflect what the Bible teaches? Does the book give false impressions as to what the Word of God actually teaches about prayer? How could such a very small devotional book prove so successful? What is it saying that other inspirational and devotional books are missing?

We may not be able to answer all of these questions successfully. But because of the way the book has been received, and because of its message, an attempt to find answers may be important.

First, let me say how dangerous it is to do such a critique on a book that is receiving such rave reviews. Some may call anyone who tries to evaluate this work, “a spoil sport” who wishes his books would have similar success. Or, many may raise the question, “Why are you even spending so much time on answering the book? Don’t you have better things to do?”

In fairness it is important to say that there are some good things in The Prayer of Jabez that Bible believing readers will appreciate. And it should also be pointed out, that while this critique will try to be

CTJ 5:16 (December 2001) p. 361

candid, no one can out-guess the motive of Wilkinson as to why he wrote the book. But we have an obligation to evaluate what he put down in print.

Who Was Jabez?

The man Jabez appears to drop in out of the blue in a very detailed chronological section found in 1 Chronicles 4. Only two verses (9–10) give to us the story of Jabez.

“And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, ‘Because I bore him with pain.’ Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that Thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldst keep me from harm, that it may not pain me!’ And God granted him what he requested.”