Written on his hand
“I always picked him up in my arms. But the people in Israel didn’t realize that all the good things that happened to them came from me.” (Hosea 11:3).
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: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, for they broke my covenant, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law in their hearts and write it on their minds, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremia 31, 31–33 (Schlachter 2000). Once again, God expresses his love for his people and writes to them in a special way, this time on their hearts. But note, this is a new covenant, not like the old covenant, founded on merit and works, but a connection with the inner self, in that God grants them an intimate knowledge of and relationship with him!
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
