The Prayer of Jabez

Scripture

¹⁰ 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 4:10)

Observation

In the middle of this really long list of descendants, without many comments, we find this prayer of Jabez. The prayer is simple, and we see that God granted his request. We don’t know why – but we do know that God answered. In this prayer that God answered, Jabez prayed four things: that God would bless him, that God would enlarge his territory, that God would be with him, and that Jabez could be free from pain.

I know that here there can be the danger of the prosperity gospel – that all we have to do is ask for it and God will give it to us – no matter what. I know that there are godly people who pray prayers like this only to see their territory decrease, and experience lives filled with pain – even though God is still with them (the example of Naomi comes to mind).

With that healthy corrective in place, let’s look at the exciting part of this prayer. Jabez asks God to do what only God can do. The faith that is shown in this prayer trusts that God’s desire is to bless, it is God’s desire to be close, God can keep us from pain, and God can bring enlargement and increase. Jabez trusts God for all of these things – and receives them!

Application

I, too, will trust that God can answer prayers. And I will look to him with the eyes of faith, knowing that God can do immeasurably more than all I could ask or even imagine. So, as I prayer this “Prayer of Jabez” I am fully trusting that this God who sent Jesus that I might have a relationship with him, will also hear my prayer!

Prayer

Dear God, please grant this prayer to me as you did to Jabez: “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.” Amen.