In Good Hands

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:13-16 ESV).

Our reading today gives us the context for one of the most often misquoted verses in the Bible Verse sixteen is repeated as “I have engraved your name on the palms of my hands.” Actually the word picture in this chapter indicates that God has engraved not our names, but our very selves, on his hands. The point is to show that God loves us, cares for us, and will never forget us. On the occasions that I have held my grandchildren’s hands I have often heard some reference to the “rough skin” of my palms. I have never done a lot of manual labor which would be one of the culprits for the rough skin. However, what little work I do, especially in the wood shop, I rarely use gloves. That, and the fact that I never use hand lotion, make for rough feeling skin. Typically this produces the response of “Grandpa, your hands are scratchy.” I always reply, “That just makes it easier for you to feel me holding on tight.” Life is not nearly as jovial as this picture. But, it will end with Jesus’ victory and his hands still holding us securely. Those hands can easily be understood as “rough.” They were scarred by the nails of the cross, but he has promised that he will never let go of his loved ones. All who believe in him as Lord and Savior are safe and secure in the palms of his hands. As Jesus promised, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (cf. John 10:28-29). The picture I’ve chosen today is that of a religious figurine of a little boy resting in strong hands. I can think of no better truth to remember during the next few weeks of Lent. It is a good time to reflect on God’s powerful hands and to see ourselves engraved there. In Jesus’ last recorded prayer, he said: Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:11-12 ESV). Let those be your words to treasure this Lenten Season.