The Prayer of Jabez
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
"Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name
Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' And Jabez called on the God of
Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I
may not cause pain.' So God granted him what he requested" (1 Chronicles
4:9-10). Who was Jabez? There is no mention of him anywhere else in the
scriptures. From the context, it does appear that he was of the tribe of Judah,
and some think that he was a son of Koz (cf. v. 8). There are other theories as
to who and what he was, but our purpose here is simply to see what lessons we
can learn fromthis passage of scripture.
First, consider the attitude of Jabez. He was honorable. Why he was more
honorable than his brothers we are not told, but it may have to do with the
nature of his prayer. There are two characteristics that are needed for one to
be honorable in prayer. One of them is being earnest, which means intense,
zealous, sincere, and determined. We are told that "the effective, fervent
prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). The second of these
characteristics is humility. "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand
of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for
He cares for you" (1 Peter5:6-7). The earnest, fervent prayer that is prayed in
true humility ishonorable before God.
Another aspect of the attitude of Jabez is that he directed his prayer to God.
Because we are to worship the Lord our God and serve Him alone, Jesus taught us
to address our prayers, saying, "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name"
(Matthew 4:10, 6:9). To direct such a prayer to God demonstrates that one is
trusting in and thus dependent on Him for everything that is needed. "Be anxious
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6).
Second, consider the character of Jabez's petition. He requested a personal
blessing. To ask God's blessing is to ask Him to bestow divine favor. There is
nothing wrong with requesting God to bless us specifically. The Psalmist did. He
prayed, "Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and
bear them up forever" (Psalm 28:9). Jabez also asked God to enlarge his borders.
This seems to relate to material prosperity. Thus, it is certainly scriptural
for us to pray that God will bless us materially (note Matthew 6:11). However,
the Bible offers no "quid pro quo" promise that if we do certain specified
things for God then He will materially prosper us a certain specified amount, as
some who hold the "Abundant Life--Health and Wealth" gospel teach. Rather, the
Lord has simply said that if we serve Him faithfully, He will provide for us
(Matthew 6:33).
Then Jabez beseeched that God's hand would be with Him, no doubt to provide
protection and guidance. Should we not pray with the Psalmist, "Lead me in Your
truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the
day" (Psalm 25:5)? Finally, Jabez expressed a petition that God would keep Him
from evil. Jesus also indicated that His disciples should pray for God's
preservation and deliverance, as He taught them to say, "And do not lead us into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). Of course, God's
protection, guidance, preservation, and deliverance are all provided for us
through the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The reason why Jabez thus prayed was so that He might not cause pain. One
commentator expressed it this way: "Let me not experience the grief which my
name implies, and which my sins would well produce." Another phrased it, "Grant
that the grief implied in my name may not come upon me!" And likewise, it should
be our prayer, "I cling to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame!"
(Psalm 119:31). Finally, consider the response of God, who granted Him what he
requested. The Lord has promised us, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek,
and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocksit will be opened"
(Matthew 7:7-8). God has said that He will hear and respond to the prayers of
His people. Oh, He may not always give us what we ask for, when we ask for it,
in exactly the way that we asked. But He is the source of every good and perfect
gift (James 1:17). Therefore, we can trust Him to answer our prayers by
providing what He knows best that we need in harmony with His will, just as He
did with the prayer of Jabez.
By Wayne S. Walker
From Expository Files 8.11; November 2001
