I Chronicles 4:10 Jabez prayed to the God of Israel. Jabez said, “Please do good things for me. Please give me more land. Stay with me, and don’t let anyone hurt me. Then I won’t have any pain.” And God did what Jabez had asked. (ICB Version)
Jabez was not a prophet, a judge, or a king. His birth caused his mother pain. But Jabez was an honest man. More honest than his brothers. He belonged to the tribe of Judah.
We know the story of Samuel, the prophet. We know the story of Deborah, the judge. We know the story of David, the king. Their heroic tales bring glory to God. For we know the battle belongs to the Lord. Jabez's life tells the story of a different kind of warrior. He was a prayer warrior.
In Hebrew, Jabez means "he causes pain." But Jabez's blessing didn't depend on his name. The blessing depended on God's name. What does the name of the God of Israel mean? God calls Himself by many names. They all have different meanings.
It doesn't matter what your name is or what people call you. Your identity is in the God of Israel. Be a prayer warrior like Jabez. Call on the name of the Lord. He will bless you. His hand will be with you and keep you from evil.
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