The Good Hand of God Upon Us - Ezra 6-8 and John 21
Ezra makes several references to the good hand of God being upon him and the group of people who returned to Jerusalem with him. Of course, this is a human term that is applied to God, so we must consider what it means for God's hand to be upon someone. To me it speaks of several things. When someone powerful places his hand on another person it brings peace and security. It also denotes a close relationship. The main thing about having God's hand upon us is the leadership and provision of God being there for us. We should never want to live a day without the good hand of God upon us. Without Him we can do nothing. Ezra had learned that truth. He even called the people to pray and fast for God's hand to be upon them for their journey to Jerusalem. He was asking God for special protection and provision. God responded to their fasting and prayers, and He will do the same for any believer today who seeks His hand in that sincere way. We all need to stop and ask ourselves if God's hand is upon us. Are we seeing His provision and protection? Are we feeling the security of His strong hand? Is there a closeness in our relationship? If we have to answer no to any of these questions, we should fast and pray until His hand is upon us again.
In John 21 Jesus gives His disciples a concrete example of His hand being upon them. They are told to cast out the nets, and they cast a huge number of fish without breaking their nets. This was God's power and provision. It was Jesus' way of showing what could happen when His hand was on them. Then, as He loving confronted Peter about his love for Him, Jesus commanded Peter to follow Him. Of course, Jesus was not asking Peter to go it alone. He was making it clear that He would be with him all the way. Peter could feed the lambs of God, because His hand would be upon Him. That is true for all of us, too. God does not call us to a task with supplying the power and provision for that task. He provides through His mighty right hand. He leads us by His hand. We feel His assuring hand on us all the way. I pray that each of us know the comfort and strength of having God's hand upon us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezra 9-10 and Acts 1.
In John 21 Jesus gives His disciples a concrete example of His hand being upon them. They are told to cast out the nets, and they cast a huge number of fish without breaking their nets. This was God's power and provision. It was Jesus' way of showing what could happen when His hand was on them. Then, as He loving confronted Peter about his love for Him, Jesus commanded Peter to follow Him. Of course, Jesus was not asking Peter to go it alone. He was making it clear that He would be with him all the way. Peter could feed the lambs of God, because His hand would be upon Him. That is true for all of us, too. God does not call us to a task with supplying the power and provision for that task. He provides through His mighty right hand. He leads us by His hand. We feel His assuring hand on us all the way. I pray that each of us know the comfort and strength of having God's hand upon us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezra 9-10 and Acts 1.