The Bible doesn’t say much about Jabez, one of the descendants of Judah, but his prayer in Chronicles chapter 10 would be a good one for us, and that’s perhaps why Susie Larson included this verse in her “Blessings for Every Day” choices. There is a prayer included in the genealogy chapter 4. Most of the others are merely names, showing their relationship to this family. but Jabez has a prayer which, upon doing some research, many include among their life goals. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Jabez was striving to be just such a person, and relying solely on God’s blessing to accomplish that. Here’s what the verse says in three versions. First, the King James: “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!’
Here it is in the NIV: ‘ 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.”
And here it is in the New Living Translation: ‘Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!’ And God granted him his request.”
I think this is a great prayer for the beginning of a new year. If we can expand our influence, showing God’s love and blessing to others in our work or in other activities, letting our light shine, that would be blessing enough. He then adds that he wants God to be with him in all that he does. That, dear readers, is the source of our power and influence. We are not sufficient to influence others unless the Spirit of God is with us.
But then Jabez has a request to keep him out of trouble, away from evil, which always causes pain. We know that when we sin, the result is never good. One of the translations even says that we are to not cause others pain. Ah, that our lives may influence others for good, that we may never cause others pain by what we do, don’t do, or say. So, this short request from a mentioned man in the Old Testament might be a great place to put our minds on this January 10th.
So, as we are looking to celebrate what we see God doing in 2023, looking for Godincidences, let’s request, as Jabez did, that God expand our territory of influence for God as we witness to others what God means to us. And may our influence never cause pain to others, but bring them blessings as well. It may bring us great joy as a result as we see others looking to God for blessings in their witness as well.
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