Word of Encouragement (08/20/2024)
Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. (1 Chron. 4:10)
Jabez’s first petition was “that you would bless me and enlarge my border....” His second petition is “that your hand might be with me....” We can and should pray for specific things. But a petition like this reminds us that God Himself is the greatest blessing we can ask for. If God’s hand is with us, what else do we need? For His hand is almighty. Let us briefly survey the Psalms to see what qualities are attributed to God’s hand and what a blessing it is to have God’s hand with us:
· “You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet...” (8:6). Here, creation is attributed to God’s hand. If God’s hand is with us, we have the almighty power of God working for us.
· “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (16:11). Not only is God’s hand almighty to create all things out of nothing, but His hand also holds joys and pleasures in fullness. When His hand is with us, we have access to them in abundance.
· “Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand” (17:7). God’s almighty hand provides refuge for His people.
· “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great” (18:35). With His right hand, He supports us. Who can make us stumble and fall?
· “My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors” (31:15). Here, God’s hand signifies His control. Not only our lives but also the (important) moments of our lives are in God’s control.
· “For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah” (32:4). God’s hand here is a hand of discipline. Even though God’s discipline may taste bitter, let us not forget that it is an act of God’s love toward His children (Heb. 12:5-8).
· “...you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free...” (44:2). God’s hand here signifies His sovereignty, directing the falls and rises of nations, ensuring the deliverance and prosperity of His people.
· “As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness” (48:10). God’s hand is the hand of a righteous Judge, who never fails to execute justice.
· “That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us” (60:5)! Here, God saves His people by His right hand.
· “...like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand” (88:5). To be cut off from God’s hand is to be dead: God’s hand gives life.
· “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy” (92:4). What God does with His hand should make us glad and sing for joy. We can also say that the work God does with His hand is to make us glad and full of joy.
· “When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things” (104:28). God gives good things to His people by His hand.
· “...even there [in the uttermost parts of the sea] your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me” (139:10). God leads His people by His hand to take us where we need to go.
· “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me” (139:5). God covers us with His almighty hand to protect us.
I hope you can meditate on these verses and know that His hand is with you!