Written on his hand

362 written on his hand"I kept picking him up in my arms. But the people of Israel did not realize that every good thing that happened to them was from me” (Hosea 11:3 Hope for All).

While I was rummaging in my tool case, I came across an old pack of cigarettes, probably from the 60s. It had been cut open so that the largest possible area was created. On it was a drawing of a three-point plug and instructions for use on how to wire it. After all these years I don't remember who wrote that, but it reminded me of a saying: “Write it on the back of a cigarette packet!” Perhaps that sounds familiar to some of you?

It also reminds me that God writes on strange things. What do i mean by that? Well, we read about him writing names on his hands. Isaiah tells us about this statement in chapter 49 of his book. God declares in verses 8-13 that he will free Israel from the Babylonian captivity with great power and joy. Notice verses 14-16. Jerusalem complains, “Oh, the Lord has abandoned me, he has long since forgotten me.” But the Lord replies, “Can a mother forget her baby? Does she have the heart to leave the newborn to its fate? And even if she forgot, I'll never forget you! I have written your name indelibly on the palms of my hands. ”(HfA) Here God declares his perfect loyalty to his people! Notice that he uses two special images, mother's love and writing on his hands, a constant reminder for himself and for his people!

If we now turn to Jeremiah and read the statement where God says this: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they have broken my covenant, although I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:31-33 Schlachter 2000). Again God expresses his love for his people and writes again in a special way, this time on their hearts. But notice, this is a new covenant, not like the old covenant, based on merit and works, but a connection within, in which God gives you an intimate knowledge of and relationship with Himself!

Just like this old, worn out cigarette packet, which reminds me of the wiring of the three-point plug, our father also writes in funny places: "On his hands that reminds us of his loyalty, and on our hearts the promise to us with his spiritual law of love to fill! "

Let's always remember he really loves us and write it down as evidence.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for making it clear how precious we are to you in such a special way - we love you too! Amen

by Cliff Neill


pdfWritten on his hand