Exodus 8: 1- 19, 2 Chronicles 33: 1-
23, Daniel 5: 1- 30
His able hands
here refer to God’s powerful hands. Hands that create and recreate, hands that
mould, deliver, save, anoint and heal; hands that are highly endowed to
contain, sustain, strengthen and uphold. They are hands of love, affection,
succour, protection, comfort, perfection, victory, miracles and of
righteousness.
God’s arms,
hands and fingers are capable of performing all the functions listed above. Let us consider
how God’s able hands affected some personalities in the scriptures. Our lord Jesus
Christ knows what His father’s hands are capable of doing hence in Luke 23:46 “Jesus called out with a loud voice, father into your hands I commit my
spirit and having said this, he gave up the ghost”. No wonder God
raised Him up from the dead to come and be the saviour and redeemer. Jesus knew everything ended in His father’s
able hands, hence He said we should all be aware that our body, soul
and spirit are in the Lord’s hands. Act 17:28a
David called
upon God to deliver him when he was going through perilous experiences. He
committed everything into God’s able hands. David had complete trust in God; he
knew the character of God that His hands are hands of succour, protection and
power. Hence in Psalm 31:5 David said, “Into your hands I commit my spirit,
redeem me, o Lord, the God of truth”. He wanted God to free him from the trap
that was set for him and to deliver him into His righteousness.When traps are set for you, just commit
yourself into His hands. He will surely deliver you. Remember, He is able,
abundantly able, to deliver and to save those who trust in Him.
When the
Israelites became fearful, unsafe and appeared troubled, God reassured them in
Isa 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”. God assured them
of safety, protection, help and strength against all oppressions. Is anybody oppressing
you? God will uphold you with His righteous hands against any oppression.
In 2 Chronicles 33: 1- 23, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah and laid siege on
Judah thinking he would conquer. Hezekiah reassured the people of Judah and
Jerusalem that they need not be afraid of the king of Assyria because the
king of Assyria depended on the arm of flesh but the they put thier trust in the Lord, that is the arm of
God is with them and it is arm that can deliver, fight battles and win. With
this statement, the people of Judah and Jerusalem gained confidence. Hezekiah said in 2 Chronicles 32: 8 “With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord
our God to help us and to fight our battles”. 2 Chronicles 32:21
says “And the Lord sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men and the
leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So King Sennacherib
withdrew to his own land in disgrace”. King Sennacherib depended so
much on his hands and suffered disgrace but Hezekiah depended on God’s able
hands and won the battle and was not put to shame according to Psalm 20:7. Our God is a mighty
warrior and winner all the time. Is there any battle for you or any invader?
The Lord that sent out the invaders in Hezekiah’s land will do same for you in
Jesus name. No one can hold back the arms of God.
The hands of
Aaron and Moses virtually became the hands of God becasuse each time the Lord
commanded them to stretch out their hands, miracles happened (Exodus 8:1-19). Even Pharaoh’s
magicians confessed it was the finger of God working on Aaron and Moses. When
Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground,
gnats came upon men and animals of Egypt. But pharaoh’s magicians were not able
to perform same. Exodus 8:19 says “The magicians said to Pharaoh, This is
the finger of God”. When the Lord is on your side, He would empower your hands
or fingers or arms for miracles.
Also the finger
of God could sometimes be a sign of warning as it was for King Belshazzar as it
was recorded in Daniel 5:1-30. While King Belshazzar with others were feasting
with the golden and silver vessels that were brought from the temple of God in
Jerusalem and praising the gods of gold, silver, brass, Iron, wood and stone.
The finger of God appeared to warn him with the inscription of “MENE, MENE,
TEKELI, UPHARSIN” as in Daniel 5: 25
The meaning of these words are:
·
God hath numbered thy Kingdom and finished it.
·
Thou art weighed in the balances and art found
wanting
·
Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes
and Persians
In that same
night Belshazzar the King was slain. You may be
warned in this same manner, do not discountenance it. It is for you to seek
redress. Another lesson to learn here is that you should not worship idols. No
other god is to be worshipped except the
Almighty God.
Exodus 20:23 says “Ye shall not
make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold” but
king Belshazzar did not hearken to this and he saw the finger of God. When God
puts his fingers or hands on you or your instrument, you are no more ordinary. God’s hands are
capable of wiping away our tears and sorrow. His hands and fingers are for
comfort as in Rev 2:14.
Are you in
sorrow? He will surely wipe away your tears in Jesus name. As God’s able hands
and fingers are for creating, protection and for upholding you, they are also
for warning.
Prayer
Father in heaven, let your able hands
uphold me throughout my life time. And when they are for warning, grant me the
grace to heed and change for better in Jesus name I pray. Amen
