Do you have a history or a reputation that weighs you down? Has someone or something else defined you? Jabez had that issue.
The prayer of Jabez has been popularized in recent years as a plea for a bigger territory or sphere of influence as well as God’s guidance. Those are notable but we also get a glimpse at a deeper pain here. Everything we know about Jabez is found in these three verses that interrupt a genealogical list.
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 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. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez means pain, sorrowful, or one who causes sorrow or pain. What an ignoble start to his life. As names carried reputational value, he had to bear that weight his whole life. He may have even been overlooked, or looked down on, which would help explain his request for more influence.
Even so, Jabez was just. He was honorable. He asked that God would guide and protect him. And, in my mind, most importantly, that he would not cause pain to others. Some translations say he asked to be protected from pain. Either way, he did not want to live up to the name given him. He aspired to better - to do good and not evil. And God granted that request.
Do you have a sorrowful reputation that follows you? Either earned or inherited? It’s ok to pray to become better than that, to move past it. God can take a name, a reputation, an identity, and grant a new one. God will honor a request to guide and protect. Be honorable. Call on God. And pray for His hand to be upon you. And you may find that your kingdom territory, your witness, your world, has been enlarged beyond any prior constraint.
