Undoubtedly everyone has heard the story of Jabez. There have been countless sermons, articles, opinions stated, and books covering the topic of the prayer of Jabez. I did not intend to add to that list, but as I was researching for a sermon out of the book of First Chronicles, I landed upon this passage of Scripture.
Verse nine starts off by saying that Jabez was more honorable than his brethren. The Scripture does not tell us anything more about why he was more honorable or for what reason. Theologians can only speculate and assume as to what manner of man he was. The one thing for sure that we know is that he was held in high regards due to the phrase “was more honorable than his brethren.” The second part of verse nine tells how he got his name, Jabez. You can look back at Genesis 3:16, “in sorrow thou shalt bring form children.” Again, we do not truly know why this is mentioned, we can only speculate.
But let us look at the main theme to this Scripture, verse ten.
We are not told anything remarkable about Jabez other than that he prayed. Jabez is associated with a prayer rather than an act of heroism. In his prayer, he requested that Got favor him, to help him in his work, to accompany him in everything that he did, and to keep him from insidiousness and debacle. Jabez recognized God as the genuine focus of his work. Whenever we petition God for God's favoring, we ought to likewise implore that he will accept his legitimate situation as Lord over our work, our family time, and our entertainment. Submitting to him in day-by-day obligations is brave living. The only way for us to be genuinely great is by seeking God's will, and to do that we must pray earnestly and fervently (James 5:16).
Jabez did not pray to a Gentile deity, he prayed to the one and only God who can hear and answer prayer, and in his prayer, he only asked for four things.
In his first petition, “Oh that you wouldest bless me indeed.”
Just as Jacob wrestled with the angel to be blessed, there is a persistence in Jabez’s prayer (Genesis 32:26). God does bless and will bless those that are in him (Psalm 72:17; Ephesians 1:3). Was Jabez content with his spirituality? Was he recognizing what was more important for him than possessions? Was he searching for just a closer walk with thee?
In his second petition, “And enlarge my coast.”
We do not know if Jabez was asking that God multiply his land. Maybe he was asking for God's help in caring for all that he had, not just worldly possessions but for his spiritual growth as well. Maybe he wanted to go beyond the meaning of his name, sorrow. Maybe he wanted to get out of his comfort zone like so many Christians today are in. Or maybe he wanted to go farther than just in his local area with his prayer (Psalm 4:1).
In his third petition, “And that thine hand would be with me.”
Our own hands are not able to do or care for ourselves, so Jabez is asking for God, the hand that made him, to guide him. God is with us in every situation, every trial, in every circumstance. He is there to guide us, protect us, and to love us. He has us in his hands which no one can remove us from (Psalm 119:173; Psalm 139:5; Isaiah 42:6; John 10:28).
In his fourth petition, “And that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me.”
This is remarkably similar to a portion of the prayer taught by Jesus in Matthew 6. Here Jabez is asking for deliverance from any evil presence (Matthew 26:41; Colossians 4:2; Matthew 6:13).
The end of the verse, “And God granted him that which he requested.”
We do not know the specifics of the outcome of the prayer, only that God did grant his prayer.
• 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
• 1 Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.”
• Psalm 145:18, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
• Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Jabez recognized God as the genuine focus. He asked explicitly to be safeguarded from wickedness and calamity. When we appeal to God for his favoring, we ought to likewise ask that God will take his sovereign position as Lord over all aspects of our lives. We live in a fallen reality where sin flourishes, and it is critical to request that God protect us from the unavoidable underhandedness that comes toward our direction. Yet, we should likewise stay away from wrongful thought processes, wants, and activities that start inside us. Hence, we should not only look for God's security from demonic forces, yet in addition request that God watch over our contemplations and activities. We can start to use his assurance by filling our brains with positive considerations and mentalities (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6; Matthew 7:7-8; Hebrews 4:16).
God style me into your flawlessness, take complete charge of me and all that I am made of, and secure me against each and every detestable or wrongdoing so that I may not wander off-track yet follow you always.
