HAND

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One of the most famous paintings in all history is found on the ceiling of the SIstine Chapel in the Vatican.  It was painted in the early 1500s by Michelangelo and is called ‘The Creation of Adam.‘  It illustrates the story from the book of Genesis and shows the hand of God - on the right - reaching out to touch Adam’s hand.

In the Bible, the finger, hand and arm of God symbolize great power One.

Jeremiah said:  ‘Ah, Lord GOD!  It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too hard for You.’  (Jeremiah 32:17)

David:  'When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him ... ‘  (Psalm 8:3)

When God sent a plague of LICE on Egypt in the book of Exodus, Pharaoh’s magicians called it an act perpetrated by ‘the finger of God.’ 

'God didn't have to do anything He's done for you.  He didn't have to promise you anything.  He wanted to.'

God gave to Moses the two tablets of stone written with the 'finger of God.'

Jesus:  "It is by the finger of God that I cast out demons ... ”  (Luke 11:20)

Hands and fingers are powerful.  A person in authority just has to crook a finger at someone and he’ll come.  A parent can point at something and the child will understand that means, ‘Pick that up and bring it here.’  A policeman simply holds up his hand and you stop.

Maybe one of the more vivid portrayals of the arm/hand of God in the Bible is found in Deuteronomy 26:  ”The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.  And He brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”  (Deuteronomy 26:8, 9)

By God's mighty hand He brought us out.  And then ... He brought us in.  When you gave your life to Christ - He took you out of the darkness and transferred you into the light.  Whenever God takes you out of something, He never just dumps you or leaves you to fend for yourself.  He sets you down into something better than He took you out of.

God's hand reaching in and bringing you out represents His will in your life.  When we see His hand in action, it's always confirming what He wants.

God didn’t have to do anything He’s done for you.  He didn’t have to promise you anything.  He wanted to.  He wanted to love you.  It was a merciful and graceful act of His will and by His hand.

Nothing but the hand of God could have brought you out of the mess you were in ... and nothing but the hand of God is keeping you out of another one. 

And be blessed.