What a Mighty God we have!

We know that God is a Spirit, but we can better understand God's working when we use phrases like 'The Hand of God.'  The Bible uses this term to refer to God's power, strength, and ability to act in His creation and on behalf of His created beings!  The Psalmist declares in Psalm 119:73, "Your hands have made me and fashioned me …"  The might of His hand was not only seen during the deliverance of Israel and in the conquest of Canaan, but also throughout of history.  We can see the works of His hands in our personal lives in many ways. God's hand convicts us. When Belshazzar saw fingers of a man's handwriting on the wall,  he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way (Daniel 5:5-6). God's hand leads us just as the Psalmist describes in Psalm 23.  God's hand upholds us since He knows what we are going through! We read in Isaiah 41:10, "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."  The Lord has engraved us in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16).  

Even after personally experiencing the mighty acts of God in their lives, the people of Israel did not choose to obey Him. They experienced the wrath of God because of their disobedience.   We can make the same mistake as what Israel did. That is why Paul says in 1 Cor 10:11, "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  God's hand is still mighty; God's hand is still active. God's hand is still able to strengthen us, and God's hand is still able to deliver us. 

 My friend, what is our commitment today?  Are we resting in the hand of God, or have we moved away from the hand of God, trusting in our abilities and wisdom? That is the question we have to ask ourselves as we begin this New Year.  Let us today decide to obey God in everything, for the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:6-7, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

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