Jabez’s Prayer
1 Chronicles 4:9,10 (NKJV) “9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”
At the beginning of 1 Chronicles, chapter 4, there is a genealogy list of names in the tribe of Judah—the Bible lists who begot whom, and so on. But at verse 9, the Bible pauses to mention something special about someone more special than his brothers. His name was Jabez.
Some of you may have heard about the special prayer that Jabez prayed to God. His prayer was a simple request that contained five parts:
- Asked God to bless Him.
- Asked God to enlarge his territory.
- Asked God that His hand would be with him.
- Asked God to keep him from evil.
- Asked God to help him not to cause any pain.
Two questions come to mind: (A) Out of all his brothers, why did God grant his request? (B) Why did Jabez make such a big request?
The answer to the first question is given in the first part of verse 9. Jabez was an honorable man. He had favor in God’s eyes. You may have read this and quickly started asking God to bless you with things. Yet, casually overlooked the qualifying rule of being an honorable person. God already knows your motives. The answer to the second part of question pertains to Jabez’s knowledge and faith in God. Every Hebrew knows the stories of God parting the Red Sea to rescue the Hebrews from the Egyptians. Every Hebrew knows how God cared for the children of Israel in the wilderness with Manna from Heaven and water from a rock. So Jabez knew God was unlimited, and he believed in God.
There is one thing Jabez asked for that I feel is the most important. He asked God to help him avoid causing pain to others. Although Jabez asked for a blessing from God, he was not selfish because he did not want his blessing to cause harm to others.
Whenever you ask God for things, make sure you have the right motives. Do you want them only for yourself, or are you planning to share them with others and spread the Gospel? Be sincere with God. Even though He already knows what you will ask, He wants your sincerity.
Be Blessed!
Ron
Ron Cobbs Ministries © Copyright August 17th, 2026, All Rights Reserved
