The Daily Nosh – I Chronicles 4:9-10
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” Jabez called out to the God of Israel, saying, “If only you would greatly bless me, and enlarge my territory. Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I might not suffer pain.” Adonai (the Lord) granted what he asked. (TLV) HE
Nosh: Jabez (a Godly man) asked God specifically for three things; Divine health, Divine blessing and divinely multiplied wealth. The Scripture importantly records that God granted “what he asked.” Perhaps the Lord responds to specific requests because, when answered, the person who makes the request knows from where the answer came and is more apt to give God the credit and continue to humbly serve the Lord. In any case, this passage should be a great encouragement to those faithfully serving the Lord to pray specifically and believe God for a specific response.