The Mighty Hand of God for Times Like These

In this focus on His hand, no suggestion is being made that this view of God is more important than other anthropomorphisms (the Bible's way of presenting God in human terms): His eye, arm, feet, mind, nostrils, mouth, strength, finger, anger, etc. Psalm 18:8-9, 31:2, 34:15-16; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Numbers 6:25, 11:23; Isaiah 59:16; Matthew 11:10 and 1 Peter 3:12 are examples of hundreds of references to these terms of accurate relationship and enjoyment of the Lord. All anthropomorphic terms of God are important for a complete understanding of Him as seen in Holy Scripture. The language of the Bible was inspired in such a way for us to understand Him in terms of a person's feelings, relationships, actions and promises. The higher purpose is that we might know, love and trust Him. Hand is one of the ways to see and respond to Him as God who loves us and calls sinners to Himself through the Gospel of Jesus Christ by the agency of the Holy Spirit. With the image of hand abundant in Scripture, God's character, compassion and call are made personal to all people, especially the believer in Jesus Christ. Hand is a term which occurs approximately fifteen hundred times in the Bible, meaning among other things: hand, side and power. This quantity of references to hand includes "the right hand, the left hand" as well as directions, indications of a person's actions, dealings, spiritual impulses and even one's whole person. In more than 200 places the Old Testament speaks of the hand of Yahweh. The reference is always to God's activity by which He shows Himself mighty in creation and works. Israel can say of the historical acts of the Lord, which it has experienced, that His hand has brought them to pass. In the tradition of the Exodus from Egypt it stressed by constant repetition that Yahweh delivered His people from bondage and led them to freedom with a strong hand and outstretched arm...A non-existent God cannot appear to hurting humanity in troubled times. Only an eternally existent Lord manifests Himself to us in kindness through the acts of His holy and helpful hands. Thus we can breath this prayer to our Heavenly Father: Lord, of the days that are left to me I give them to Your hands; Take me and break me and mold me to the pattern You have planned...Hand is seen in a variety of ways in the New Testament. The most important way is the many examples of Jesus' touching others to heal and help. The supreme picture in the New Testament is His nail-pierced hands at Calvary. His hands show the grace of God for us...Kendra writes, "Reflecting on the hand of God is a daunting task. I hope you would be skeptical if I claimed I could fully explain how God has protected and guided me during my life. If I could fully understand His plan, then it doesn't sound like the work of the creator who made the universe, yet cares for the sparrow...Though each mundane detail of life is a testament to God's protection, this truth is most clear to my human mind through "big moments." The "near-misses" of tragedy. The times we can easily see the "if not for God" so clearly. Perhaps in His grace, God allows us these moments because they can constantly serve as landmarks in our memory that He spares our lives for His purpose...and I prayed so fervently for several days to God to preserve the life in me. He graciously granted that prayer. I should have known then that nothing about the next six months would be easy, and secondly, God would provide. On the news of being pregnant with triplets, we had one choice--trust the hand of God. Whatever He was planning for our family, we prayed for the strength to face it...Through their convictions, the apostles believed He held the present and the future in His hands. They committed themselves as instruments in the hands of God. They placed the future of "their" Church in His hands. We must do the same because it is really His Church.