The Prayer of Jabez
The Prodigy of the Genealogy
The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles consist of the official family tree of the 12 Hebrew tribes beginning with Adam and proceeding through thousands of years to Israel’s return from captivity. More than 500 names make up this family tree. But in chapter four something unique happens. Forty-four names into the chapter the Holy Spirit led author takes a detour, look at it:
8 And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
1 Chron 4:8
9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
1 Chron 4:9-10
Then right back to so and so begat so and so and so on.
There is something about this guy Jabez that made the writer hit the pause button on his begats and the Holy Spirit gave us something special. A simple prayer, a direct request to God that changed his life and left a permanent mark on the history books of Israel.
Who is Jabez?
His mother and father aren’t mentioned by name, but his mother implied he was a “pain”. All babies come in with some pain, but something about this child made his mother give him a name that in Hebrew literally means “pain”.
Pregnancy or delivery was traumatic. Maybe he was born breech. Whatever the reason his name stuck to him like ours sticks to us. It had meaning and to the people of that day it was prophetic. In Bible times, a man and his name were intimately related. When parents named their child it was with the future in mind.
Joel = Jehovah is God
Moses = Drawn out of water
Solomon = Peace
David = Beloved
Jabez = Pain
In spite of his “painful” name scripture says that Jabez was “honorable”.
9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren:…..
What makes a prayer like this one get answered? The honor of the one whom prays it.
There was nothing in the way of PRAY-ER!!!!
Hindrances to our Prayer of Jabez
1. Selfish Prayers: 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James 4:3
2. Sin-Sickness: that it cannot hear:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2
3. Idols: 3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Ezek 14:3
4. Stinginess: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38
5. Unforgiveness: 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:24-25
6. Marital Problems: 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7
7. Unbelief: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
1 Chron. 4:10
