1 Chronicles 4:10 Commentary
The Prayer of Jabez
1 Chronicles 4:10 says, "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!' And God granted him what he requested." (NKJV)
In this verse, we find the prayer of Jabez, a man who is mentioned only briefly in the biblical record. However, his prayer has become famous throughout history, and its significance continues to inspire and challenge believers today.
The Key to Success
The prayer of Jabez can be summed up in four main requests:
1. Bless me indeed
Jabez asks God to bless him, not just superficially but truly and deeply. He wants to experience God's blessing in his life, and he's willing to ask for it.
2. Enlarge my territory
Jabez wants God to increase his influence, his resources, and his opportunities. He's not content with the status quo and wants to expand his horizons.
3. Let Your hand be with me
Jabez recognizes that he needs God's presence and guidance in his life. He wants to feel God's hand upon him, directing him and empowering him.
4. Keep me from evil
Finally, Jabez asks God to keep him from evil, recognizing that he is prone to sin and failure. He wants to be protected from harm and to live a life that honors God.
Lessons from Jabez' Prayer
So what can we learn from Jabez' prayer?
1. Boldness in Prayer
Jabez' prayer teaches us to be bold and specific in our requests to God. We shouldn't be afraid to ask God for big things, trusting that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
2. God's Goodness
Jabez' prayer reminds us of God's goodness and willingness to bless His people. He wants to give us good gifts, and we should ask Him with confidence.
3. Dependence on God
Jabez' prayer emphasizes our dependence on God. We need His hand to guide us, empower us, and protect us from harm.
Conclusion
The prayer of Jabez is a powerful reminder of God's goodness and His willingness to bless us. May we learn to pray boldly and specifically, trusting in God's goodness and guidance in our lives.
