A TWO-VERSE wonder
His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 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 God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:9,10
The Bible includes many people who enter and exit suddenly. Eutychus appears only once in Acts, yet he was part of a great miracle. Josheb-Basshebeth was the best of David’s brave warriors, and Shiphrah and Puah were two midwives who rescued Israelite babies from the hands of the Egyptians. These were all important people, but their places in the Bible are limited. We can add Jabez to that list.
The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles are filled with list after list of genealogies. Yet buried deep within these names is a gem about prayer, two verses that introduce us to Jabez. One can easily miss the beautiful and simplistic prayer of Jabez.
We know little about Jabez, except that he was from the tribe of Judah. Because his mother bore him in such deep pain, she named him Jabez, which means “sorrow-maker.” His prayer cries out for protection and blessing. It was delivered not as a formula to get something from God, but as a request that he might accomplish the promises of God. It includes four requests. (See prayer above.)
First, we notice that Jabez realizes that all things come from God as he cries out to the God of Israel. Then he asks for God’s grace and blessing. Our prayers should also come from hearts invested in the blessings of God.
Second, Jabez prays that God would expand his territory. We do not know the circumstances that caused Jabez to ask this; however, since we know that God granted his request, we can be confident that his appeal was in compliance with the will of God.
Third, Jabez asks for the presence of God’s hand. This is his way of asking that God would guide him and serve as his strength each day. Likewise, we pray that God’s hand would lead us through all circumstances.
Finally, Jabez petitions for protection from harm and for freedom from pain. Jabez looks to God for his well-being. What a wonderful example of prayer for us.
Pray the prayer of Jabez often.
From The Gift of Prayer