The Good Hands God

In I Samuel 5, the “hand of the Lord was heavy” against the Philistines. They thought that they had won a major victory against God’s people by capturing the ark of God. But everywhere they took the ark, the hand of the Lord was heavy against them and they suffered disaster. For God had said, “Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.” (I Samuel 2:30) The Philistines despised God and suffered for it. Nehemiah 2:18 says, “And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good.” God’s hand brings good through the person who walks in sincere faith. When we honor God by faithfully walking in His ways, He will do good for us and through us.

Words of Instruction

Sometimes we listen to the advice and wisdom of others, but quickly forget what we have been taught. The instructions were true and useful, but we don’t use the instruction because we have forgotten what was told to us.

Proverbs 22:17-19 says, “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.” Hearing God’s words, applying them, remembering them, and speaking them increases our faith and makes our paths pleasant.

Healing Close-by

What if your most trusted advisor was also right next to you? You could ask for advice at any time and they could provide timely counsel. What if your doctor stayed by your side constantly? Any time you felt pain or even slightly ill, you could ask the doctor for help. Unfortunately, these systems and processes do not work this way. We have to schedule appointments with advisors and physicians when they have an opening, not just when we need them.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” One of the most amazing attributes of Almighty God for me is the fact that He chooses to be near to me. Once our pride and stubbornness is humbled, He chooses to heal our broken hearts and revive our crushed spirits with His kind touch.

Protection of Everything Dear to Us

I worked at a bank for over 20 years, so I have seen many bank vaults. The walls are thick and the opening mechanism is complicated. Entry is granted only to authorized personnel. These designs are intended to keep the valuables safe and secure from attack or theft. Individuals do their best to safeguard their valuables with things like personal safes, tornado shelters, locks, and gates.

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” It is God’s perfections of faithfulness, power, mercy, and wisdom that we must rely upon for security. We run to Him for protection from evil and a secure relationship with Him.

Reading the Right Mystery

Some people like to read mystery novels or watch mystery films. They like to try to analyze the circumstances and discover the answers. It is satisfying to gain understanding through analysis and revelation. Life is a mystery. We cannot gain understanding unless we are analyzing the correct data and receiving the right revelation.

Ephesians 1:9-10 says, “making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” By studying God’s Word and looking carefully at the person of Jesus Christ, we receive understanding regarding God’s will and His purpose, and therefore, life’s meaning.