JUST THINKING: The Hand of the Lord
As I reminisced this past week, I was just thinking about a song we often sang when I was a youth. The song was “Somebody Touched Me.” The phrase that lodged in my memory was, “Must have been the hand of the Lord.” That phrase is steeped in Scripture.
The Lord’s Hand is Power
Throughout the Bible, we read of the awesome works of God. The prophet Habakkuk wrote: “His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden” (Hab. 3:4 NIV1984). Humans only see the evidence of the unseen hand of God, and those who belong to Him recognize His power.
The Lord testified of His power in His creation. “My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together” (Isa. 48:13).
The Lord’s Hand Provides
I always urge believers to find a scripture to make their life verse. Years ago, this verse became mine: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10).He who said that to Isaiah also promised this: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). He who possesses the power always provides for His people!
The Lord’s Hand Protects
I am glad our salvation is everlasting! Once a person is saved from the condemnation of sin, that person is always saved. Jesus promises: “My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand, I and the Father are one” (John 10:29-30). As believers, we do not have to worry about Satan ever taking us back. He is not all-powerful, but our Lord is. What a joy — what a peace is ours because of the hand of the Lord!
The Lord’s Hand Promotes
The day is coming when those who have trusted Christ as Savior will meet the Lord. When I conduct funerals of Christians, I say they have been promoted to Heaven. God is pleased when His children come home to Him. Scripture says this is the result of submitting to the powerful, protecting and providing hand of the Lord. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:6-7).
Because of the goodness of God in providing rescue from sin’s condemnation and His promise to keep us in the hollow of His hand, we must always praise Him because He is righteous in all His doings. The Psalmist wrote: “Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness” (Psalm 48:10). May our prayer always be “Thank you, Lord, for your powerful, providing, protecting, and promoting right hand!”
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Dr. Tom Mitchell
Dr. Tom Mitchell pens a column titled, Just Thinking, in which he addresses many topics relative to the Baptist Missionary Association. His Trailblazers series provides biographies of many BMA trailblazers from the past.
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