The prayer of Jabez is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10: "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!' And God granted what he asked." One interesting thing about this little segment of Scripture is its location, right in the middle of a long genealogical record. The recorder pauses his listing of heritage to provide further information about Jabez, likely because his life was so noteworthy.
Born in pain and branded with a name that sounds like the Hebrew word for "pain," Jabez's future did not look especially bright. However, he prayed to God with confidence. He requested God's blessing, enlargement of territory, God's hand (or guidance), and God's protection. Jabez specifically asked that God would keep him from the pain his name implied. He wanted to live a life marked by God, not one marked by the pain of the world. And God granted Jabez's requests!
We, too, can approach God confidently (Hebrews 4:14-16) and ask for His blessing, expansion of our influence, guidance, and protection (Matthew 6:9-13; 6:32-33; James 1:5). All of this is to God's glory.
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