According to the Bible, there was a man named Jabez who was a descendant of Judah. He was given this name by his mother because of the pain she experienced in giving birth to him. Despite the challenging circumstances surrounding his birth, Jabez went on to prove himself to be more honorable than his brothers.Jabez’s Prayer for Blessing and ProtectionOne of the most well-known aspects of Jabez’s story is his prayer for blessing and protection. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, we read:”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.
“This powerful prayer shows Jabez’s faith and belief in the power of Jehovah to provide for and protect him. His earnest plea for God’s blessing was met with a favorable response, demonstrating the faithfulness of God to those who seek Him.Jabez’s Honor and IntegrityDespite his challenging circumstances, Jabez stood out among his brothers for his honor and integrity. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we read:”Jabez was more honorable 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.
“This passage highlights Jabez’s character and his willingness to seek God’s favor and protection. Despite the challenges he faced, Jabez remained faithful and committed to living a life of honor and integrity.God’s Faithfulness to JabezThroughout Jabez’s story, we see God’s faithfulness to him and his willingness to answer Jabez’s prayers. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, we are reminded of God’s response to Jabez’s request for blessing and protection:
“And God granted his request.”This simple yet profound statement underscores the faithfulness of God to those who seek Him and trust in His provision. Jabez’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faith and prayer in the life of a believer.
The story of Jabez is a powerful example of faith and perseverance in the face of adversity. Despite his challenging circumstances, Jabez remained faithful to God and sought His blessing and protection. Through his prayer and God’s response, Jabez experienced Jehovah’s faithfulness and provision in a tangible way. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of trust and perseverance in the life of a believer.
| Characteristics | Description |
|---|---|
| Descendant of Judah | Jabez was a member of the tribe of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. |
| Named by His Mother | Jabez’s name was given to him by his mother, who experienced pain during his birth. |
| Honorable | Jabez distinguished himself as more honorable than his brothers through his actions and character. |
| Prayer | Jabez prayed to God, asking for blessings and protection. |
| Blessings | God granted Jabez’s prayer and blessed him abundantly. |
Who Is Jabez In The Bible
In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is a brief mention of a man named Jabez who was a descendant of Judah. Jabez was given his name by his mother because she experienced great pain during childbirth. Despite the challenging circumstances of his birth, Jabez went on to prove himself as more honorable than his brothers.
According to the scripture, Jabez prayed to God, asking for blessings and protection. In response to his prayer, Jehovah granted his request and blessed him abundantly. This story serves as a reminder of the power of faith and the importance of seeking God’s favor.
Faith, rather than heritage, was the basis for Jabez’s inheritance. The blessing that God bestowed upon Jabez was not one of prosperity in exchange for his prayers; rather, it was one of provision for the will that God desired to be carried out through his life.
In the case of Jabez, we must not interpret his plea as a desire for a personal blessing; rather, we must interpret it as a call to God to bless him as a member of the people of God’s covenant.
Ironically, his name is a pun on the words “pain” and “sorrow.”
He appears to have lived in constant fear that his name would be prophetic, and as a result, he prayed about it, and God granted his desire. Characters from the Bible, according to the New International Encyclopedia
Jabez devoted himself to the task of studying and obeying the Torah, and he prayed and put his faith in God to guide his life. In point of fact, Jabez was honored with the naming of the city that was home to the scribes because of his expertise in the legal system. As a result of the numerous disciples that he left behind, his legacy passed on to Ezra in a way that was indelible.
In the Old Testament, there were regulations that needed to be adhered to in order to approach the presence of God, as well as sacrifices that needed to be paid in order to express gratitude and confession.
We are not like Jabez at all. He is not a part of our contemporary culture of materialism. And it is impossible to directly apply his prayer to us without first examining how it pertains to his own situation, and then finding out how it relates to Jesus Christ.
In contrast to what some people incorrectly assume, God offers us provision rather than prosperity. Christ has promised that we shall experience difficulties in this life. During the time when Jabez lived, God had made a promise that he would destroy the world as a punishment for disobedience. He had a lot of reasons to be afraid. Provision, from his point of view, was synonymous with wealth.
In order for us to be able to persevere through the challenges that this life brings, the goal is for God to change our hearts so that they are more like His. One thing that is essential to keep in mind when studying Jabez is that God responds to the prayers of the people according to His will, not according to our desires.
The real prayer of Jabez
“That you would bless me”: Jabez understood that all blessings originate from the God he trusted. It was why he prayed to God for a blessing. And these benefits are not limited to worldly items; they can also be spiritual, such as loving relationships, mental clarity, empathy, and a kind disposition, among other things. When we ask God, He grants us both financial and spiritual blessings. Thus, it should always be emphasized to us that it is okay to ask God for a blessing.
“And expand my territory”: In this context, territory refers to more than just actual land. Jabez is more focused on how his actions will advance God’s Kingdom. It is not a geographically defined area. This may not be immediately clear, but it becomes clearer when we consider this line’s spiritual significance. Jabez asked for God to expand his heart’s reach so that it would encompass everyone around him. In order to further God’s Kingdom, he wished to reach out to others.
“Let your hand be with me”: Jabez acknowledged his frail, limited humanity. That’s why he realized he needed God’s intervention. Given his knowledge of God’s omnipotence, he prayed for God’s hand to be with him, to lead him along the correct road and to support him on his journey. In this passage, Jabez acknowledges that blessings are only possible when they come from God. The rewards would be meaningless if it weren’t for God’s hand leading and directing us. They wouldn’t serve a worthwhile purpose.
“Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain”: Jabez alludes to his own name in this statement. Once more, the meaning of Jabez’s Hebrew name is “he causes pain.” By doing this, he rejected the terrible connotation of his own name. He prayed to God to keep him safe and away from suffering. Jabez might have required strength, and God Himself is the best person to turn to for that.
The prayer of Jabez might be consulted while seeking God’s will. It serves as an illustration of obedient prayer in action.
Ezra wrote the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles, a genealogy of God’s people following their captivity in Babylon. Jabez showed us how to pray God’s will over our lives with a single sentence that was added to his genealogy.
It has to do with “the covenant promises made to Israel, which are fulfilled in Christ.” When the disobedient tribe of Judah came back from their exile, Jabez’s tale held great importance. “His bond with God brought him honor despite his beginnings of terrible luck. This was an insightful lesson for those who were having identity issues. (Quest Study Bible, NIV)
Jabez is a person.
“…the scribe clans residing in Jabez:” 1 Chronicles 2:55
Faith rather than ancestry determined Jabez’s inheritance. Jabez was rewarded by God, not with wealth as a reward for his prayers, but with provision for God’s will to be carried out in his life.
Jabez’s prayer should be seen as a plea for God to bless him as a member of God’s covenant people rather than as a desire for a personal blessing.
Ironically, his name implies suffering and sadness.
“It appears that he was always afraid that his name would be prophetic. He prayed to God about it, and God heard him.” (New International Bible Character Encyclopedia)
Jabez trusted God to guide his life while he fervently learned and followed the law. Because of Jabez’s legal expertise, the city where the scribes resided was really named after him. Because of the numerous disciples he left behind, his influence was evident in Ezra’s writings.
The Old Testament contained guidelines for approaching God’s presence as well as offerings to be made in remembrance and confession.
Jabez differs from us. He is not a part of our contemporary consumerism. Furthermore, understanding how his prayer connects to his own circumstances before applying it to Jesus Christ is necessary in order to apply it to us.
Contrary to what some people assume, God offers us provision rather than affluence. Christ assures us that difficulties will arise in this life. God had threatened to bring about destruction as a result of rebellion during Jabez’s lifetime. He was afraid of a lot. Provision, in his view, was prosperity.
In order for us to withstand the hardships of this life, God wants to change our hearts to resemble His. When studying Jabez, it’s crucial to keep in mind that God grants people’s petitions according to His will, not ours.
What Does It Mean in Our Everyday Lives to Pray Like Jabez?
To approach prayer like Jabez is to offer our life as a blank slate to God. According to John Piper, “Lay hold on God for some great biblical vision for your life on this earth and don’t let go until you have it from His merciful hand.”
Putting our needs and wants at His feet shows complete commitment because we know without a doubt that He will lead us in the correct direction. Through our intimate relationship with Jesus, we are to pray fervently for a divine understanding of our mission here on Earth.
God demonstrates the value of a connection with Him via Jabez.
Was Jabez Name Changed In The Bible
There has been a popular belief among some Christians that the name of Jabez was changed in the Bible. This belief stems from the story of Jabez found in the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles. Let’s take a closer look at this story and see if there is any truth to this belief.
The Story of Jabez
The story of Jabez is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, which reads:
“Jabez was more honorable 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.”
In this passage, we see that Jabez was given his name by his mother, who associated his birth with pain. Despite this association, Jabez prayed to God for blessings and protection, and God granted his request. This story has led some to believe that Jabez’s name was changed as a result of his prayer.
Analysis of the StoryWhile the story of Jabez does not explicitly mention a name change, some interpret the fact that God granted his request as a symbolic change in his fortunes. By asking God to bless him and enlarge his territory, Jabez was seeking a transformation in his life, and God responded positively to his prayer.Relevant Bible Verses
These verses highlight instances in the Bible where names were changed or new names were given as a result of divine intervention or transformation. While the story of Jabez does not explicitly mention a name change, it is symbolic of a transformation in his life through prayer.
A MAN CALLED PAIN: THE STORY OF JABEZ IN THE BIBLE
In the book of I Chronicles, we meet a man named “Pain.” That’s right. A man whose name means “pain.” That man is Jabez.
We don’t know much about Jabez. In fact, we don’t really know anything about him other than what the author of I Chronicles tells us, and here is what that is:
And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 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.
I Chronicles 4:9-10, KJV
Even though the above passage represents only two verses in the entire Bible, I believe this prayer is significant. And I’m grateful for the Bible letting us know about that prayer and the man who offered it.
Yesterday (Sunday, January 10, 2021), I preached on the Prayer of Jabez. (If you want to watch the video of my sermon, you can do so below).
With this post, I won’t go into as much detail as I did in my sermon. But I want to offer a few highlights for us to keep in mind. And they are:
- Don’t pass on your pain. As difficult as the pregnancy and childbirth may have been for Jabez’s mother, she continued that cycle of pain by passing that pain onto her child. We must take care not to pass on our pain. Just because we’re hurting doesn’t give us the right to hurt others.
- You can always pray to your Heavenly Father. God is a “father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5). Even though others (including our parents) may let us down, God is there. We can always pray to Him.
- We can bring God our pain. He wants to hear from us, and He wants to help us. Never forget: God loves you.
- We can ask God for blessings. We serve a God who enjoys blessing His children.
- We need God to keep us out of trouble. Jabez asks God to keep him from evil. We’ve all seen how prominent Christian celebrities and leaders have fallen into sin and disgrace. It can happen to any of us. We need God. We need His protection.
- It’s honorable to want to stop the pain. Hurting people often do hurt other people, but Jabez is considered “more honorable than his brothers” because he wanted the pain to stop with him. He didn’t want pain to define him anymore, nor did he want it to be a part of his legacy. Be honorable. Do your best not to spread pain.
We don’t know a lot about Jabez, but we know what God wants us to know. The key now is what we are going to do with that information.
Hopefully, we will learn what God wants us to learn, and apply those principles to our lives.