The Shortest Success Story and It’s Secret

1 Chronicles 4:9
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”

1 Chronicles 4:10
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 chapter of the Bible continues with a genealogy that began in chapter one of the first Chronicles. Names are listed showing how people are related to each other. These relationships are critical in authenticating that one is a true Israelite by their connection all the way back to Abraham then Adam the first man created by God. Actually, the whole book begins with Adam moving forward, 1 Chronicles 1:1-4.

As the connections and names are listed, small notes are once in a while inserted to make a point. An example is 1 Chronicles 1:12 tells us that Kasluhites is the father from who the Philistines came. 1 Chronicles 2:7 reminds us of Achan or Achar who stole stuff from Jericho and it caused God to allow Israel to be defeated in Battle. Therefore, instead of just naming Achan, a small note is added to the name. 1 Chronicle 3:4 adds a note to the name of King David. Instead of just telling us how David is related to those before him and those after him, it tells us that he was king for a certain period of time in Hebron.

In chapter four where our focus is, more and more names are listed. Then suddenly the listing of names is interrupted by a short but very successful story of a man named Jabez. The historians who were doing the genealogy thought that it is not just important to know how Jabez was related to others, it is also important to know his life story. This is the shortest success story and its secret!

We know nothing else about Jabez in the entire Bible. Whatever else we read about Jabez is from records outside the Bible. This is the only place he is mentioned in the Bible. This is all we know about him. This is his entire story in scripture. A whole story in just two verses. Short simple, clear but unforgettably powerful. This is the shortest success story and its secret!

The story begins by telling us that Jabez had brothers. In comparison to his brothers, Jabez was better. We are not told what made him better than his brothers because probably it was all-around excellence above that of his brothers. Then we are told next that it is his mother and not his father who named him. He is named after the experience his mother had at his birth. Jabez means pain, he brings sorrow, he makes things sorrowful, etc.

What pain was associated with the birth of Jabez we do not know. However his prayer suggests that the pain could have haunted him throughout his life causing him to pray as he did, The pain could have been anything ranging from the death of the father at birth. The pain could have been a difficult birth process that almost killed the mother. The pain could have been a marital disagreement that came between father and mother when he was conceived or born. The pain could have been a conception after a rape ordeal. The pain could have been just a troublesome pregnancy. The pain could have been a disability he got at birth. The pain could have been his mother’s death at his birth and all she could do is name him, then die. The pain could have been anything that was directly related to the time and or manner of his birth. The mother did not want to forget this life-changing pain, so she named her son Jabez!

After being told about his brothers and his birth, next we are told that Jabez cried out to the God of Israel. Jabez didn’t just pray, he cried. Cried means the situation was desperate. He wasn’t making routine prayers. He was desperately seeking God’s help. Jeremiah 29:13 tells us that if we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him. If we genuinely cry, our heart is sincerely seeking Him and we will find Him. Jabez cried to the God of Israel.

Jabez would have cried to the gods of the Canaanites who were constantly influencing Israel to abandon their God. However, Jabez only focused on the true God of Israel. If we ever want help from the God of Israel, we must worship Him and Him alone. If we visit witches and witch doctors and even have faith in our own machinations and schemes, God of Israel will abandon us and destroy us. Jabez cried to the God of Israel. Jabez dealt with the true and able God. Jabez cried to the God of Israel.

After that, we are given a direct quotation of what his prayer was. His prayer was so clear that historians couldn’t forget it. Sometimes we are unclear on what we are praying about. When praying with others and you narrate your request, no one seems to know what you really want. Jabez was very clear on what he wanted from God. Jesus asked those he wanted to heal, “what can I do for you?” Mark 10:51. You must be clear on what you want from God.

The prayer of Jabez was not long and full of complicated religious jargon. Jabez made a straightforward simple prayer expressing his need to God. Anyone in true need can pray as Jabez did. No formula of praise first, adoration, intercession, etc., just speak to God in your anguish and He will respond.

Jabez prayed that God would bless him. Jabez prayed that God would enlarge his territory. Jabez prayed that God’s hand would be with him. Jabez prayed that God should keep him from harm so that he can be free from pain (remember his name is pain). That is all that Jabez prayed for. We can break them down in detail on what each item could have meant and what it could mean to us, but that is a story for another day. Let us take note that this prayer of Jabez is not made of magical words that if we recite we too will get the same blessings. This is not the secret to answered prayer. We need a genuine relationship with God and whatever prayer we make will be alright.

It is idolatry of sorts to make this prayer the magical prayer to go around reciting in the hope of a similar breakthrough. That is akin to cheating in an exam that requires you to write your personal experience, then you copy the experience of someone who passed the exam. You will not pass that exam, though you wrote the same story that scored the top grade because what is required is your own story.

“And God granted his request.” That is how the story of Jabez ends. God answered that prayer. That is the much historians could squeeze in a genealogy. It ends by telling us that God made a difference in the life of Jabez. God answered his prayer. After working hard and trying everything else, an answer to prayer may be all that we need. May the story of our pain that we have been praying about end with the same line, that God has favored us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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