Verse of the Day 7/6

Verse of the Day 7/6

Chronicles 4:10  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.   New King James Version (NKJV)

Yesterday we considered Job's declaration in the midst of the book, in the midst of his years and troubles,  that he knew that his Redeemer lived and that he would return  to stand upon the earth (Job 19:25).  Job's hope and prayer would be that his words would be recorded and remembered.  For today's verse we go to the book of 1 Chronicles where in "the midst" of a list of genealogies there is a pause to make a short statement about Jabez and his prayer.

The Message (below) tells us that his name, given to him because of a difficult childbirth, literally meant "Oh the pain".  Part of Jabez' prayer was that even though he was born in pain, he prayed that he would not cause pain.  He prayed that God would bless him and "enlarge his territory", not for his own sake but that  it would expand his sphere of influence and guide him.  His prayer also was recorded, he was answered and remembered.  His desire brings to mind the promise of God given to Abraham in chapter 12:

Genesis 12:2I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.    New King James Version (NKJV)

Abraham was blessed in order to be a blessing.  That is what Jabez desired, that is what we should desire.

I read the following verses this morning  in a devotional, they go well with the thoughts and prayers of Job and of Jabez.

Psalm 145:18-19 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
¹⁹ He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.   New King James Version (NKJV)

May we be among those who call out to God daily, seek Him, seek His ways, seek His blessings "to enlarge our territory", our sphere of influence, to be a blessing.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Chronicles 4:10The Message (MSG)

^9-10 Jabez was a better man than his brothers, a man of honor. His mother had named him Jabez (Oh, the pain!), saying, "A painful birth! I bore him in great pain!" Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: "Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection—don't let evil hurt me." God gave him what he asked.