Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ 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 4:9-10

 

About twenty years ago a small book called The Prayer of Jabez became an international bestseller. It sold nine million copies and made the New York Times bestseller list. The book also sparked criticism from some who accused its author of promoting a kind of prosperity gospel.

 

The entire book is based on these two verses above. This is the first and last time we ever hear of Jabez. He is a virtual nobody in Biblical history. He doesn’t make it onto the list in Hebrews 11, but he was an incredible man of faith.

 

A careful reading indicates that the point of this prayer is not to provide a formula for guaranteed success or prosperity but to give testimony to the redeeming power of God’s grace. At his birth, Jabez’s mother gave him an unfortunate name, apparently a kind of pun based on a similar sounding Hebrew word for pain (verse 9). It might have reflected her experience with a difficult birth. The statement in the text that Jabez was “more honourable than his brothers” could, however, point to an additional reason for her pain. Apparently Jabez’s brothers brought shame to the family. Perhaps she expected this child to do the same.

 

Rather than lead a life of dishonour and pain that his name seemed to predict, Jabez asked for God’s hand of blessing. He framed his request in two parts. First, he asked God to enlarge his territory. This is not stated as a demand but as a plea that reflected God’s promise to give Israel the land. Second, he asked God to keep him from harm so that he would be “free from pain” (verse 10). The language could refer to physical pain or emotional sorrow, and probably both are in view.

 

The secret to the success of this prayer is not found in some magic formula of wording but in the God to whom it is addressed. Its tone is one of faith, which recognises that the answer is dependent upon God’s power and his will.

 

Prayer: Today Father, may I trust you enough to share my deepest fears and desires. Teach me to desire your will in my life and leave the details to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.