113. God’s People in His Hands
Isaiah 51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
The people who believe in Jesus Christ are those whom God calls, “My People.” The promised Servant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, has the words of the Lord in His mouth and is covered by the Lord in the shadow of God’s hand. Believers in Christ also have this promise given to them: they are covered in the shadow of His hand. Under God’s special protection and tender care the people of God (the Church) God is able to say to the Church: “You are my people.” As the people of God, they are protected from all enemies that fight against them, they are cared for and nurtured with God’s provision and personal care, and they are loved and cherished as both the children of God and also as the Bride of Christ. Being a child of God and also being engaged to the Lord of the universe gives each of us a special personal relationship with God, an intimate relationship that lasts forever. Every believer may take confident hold of all the promises of God both for the present and for the forever future.
We are in God’s hands. We are held securely in the palm of His hands, the very hands that were pierced for crucifixion; these are hands of love. If we are covered in the hands of the Lord we can trust His wisdom and guidance for every plan and purpose ahead of us, whether large or small. If our lives are in His hands we can be sure that He will lovingly and unerringly direct us in the way we should go. When we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we can be sure that the good and gracious will of God will be done. “What God ordains is always good.” That confession needs faith, because the “good” does not always appear obvious to our small, self-centered minds. Faith receives the promise, and when we pay attention to the Gospel of Grace the Spirit engenders faith in it. Thus it is wise for us to hear the Gospel often and be reminded as frequently as possible.