As the thunder rolls outside and rattles the panes in my window, I'm reflecting on the awesome power of God. Sometimes God thunders at me and his voice is deafening. But most often he speaks in a gentle whisper, quietly, beckoning me to take the time to stop and listen carefully. He wants me to seek his face and his voice. He delights in my pursuit like a man whose lover anticipates his every note, text message or call and hangs on his every word. So I'm listening today. I'm excited for you that you are listening too.
Today we're in Isaiah 49:8-18. Wow, is this ever a poignant message from God! You need to read it yourself. Take just a few minutes and soak it in. Try praying it back to God. Affirm what he's saying and thank him for it. Ask him about what you don't understand. Make it a dialogue. That's when Scripture comes to life!
For me, I'm first drawn to the images he paints of the kind of eternal life he wants to give me. He wants to care for me in such an amazingly tender way, and though life as it is now is often hard and sometimes painful, he's reminding me of the ultimate quality of life he will give me in the new heaven and new earth. But this is the phrase that jumps out at me...
Zion said: "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. (v. 14-16)
I have felt those emotions--moments when God seemed to have walked away and left me. I know that you have, too. We can feel such deep soul anguish. Life can be so unfair. Prayers sometimes earnestly spoken with tears and fasting go ungranted. Where is God? Why has he rejected my pleas?
Through those dark moments God speaks. He whispers into my heart through this text and tells me the reality that I cannot see or presently feel. He tells me that even if my own mother, who gave me birth and who nursed me, should forget me or reject me, he never will. I am infinitely loved and treasured and constantly thought of by the God who has tatooed my name on the palm of his hand! This takes it to a whole different level. He doesn't just occasionally speak my name, he has it always in front of him, permanently engraved on his palm. I never leave his mind. I am part of him. I am his, and he is mine.
And it's not just me, but all of his people that he feels that way about. Zion represents not just the Jews but all people who have entered a covenant relationship with God by faith. He feels that way about you, too!
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Interesting that you have chosen these verses from Isaiah. It's exactly where we are at this year in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) Isaiah Study. It's a new BSF study but it has been filled with messages from God. RE: V. 16 it says in our notes (As though He is holding up His hand for them to see, He says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.")They refer us to Romans 8:35-39 about how nothing can seperate us from God.
ReplyDeleteyour friend, Terry
What a great reminder, Chris, of God's great love for me (and all of his children)! It brings me an amazing sense of security to remember that God loves me even more than any other person ever could!
ReplyDeleteEven when I feel that God has left me all alone, this text reminds me that my feelings of abandonment are serving to deceive me.
Lord, help me to remember that your love for me is never ending and you won't forget me. My name is forever engraved on the palm of your hand. My name can be read on the the hand that serves to hold me up......even when I feel all alone!
Thank you Lord!
Michele
One thing that struck me in this passage is that God has my name on the palms of his hands. Not just one of his hands, but both! We had some discussion in BSF about how a nursing mother could never (literally) forget the baby at her breast. I love the visual images we get throughout Scripture that help us learn what God is teaching us.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Since last year, this is one the very things that has frustrated me and even caused bitterness in my heart. I believe as you do Chris that all who have entered into a covenant with God are considered His people. Its very disheartening to hear when long time believers tell you that God's people are only the Jews. But excuse me, are we not all 'God's people'? I'm sorry I just can't believe that God would only care about one specific group of people and then deny those who actually believe in him completely, meaning they recognize His son as the Messiah! I just amazes me how some can take the bible so literally to think that if you're not practicing traditions out of the old testament then you're destined for hell. I would like to think that God understands that things change over time and not to mention the reason we do not have to follow all those traditions is because he sent His one and only son Jesus! Its over zealous Christians like that who drive away non- and new believers. And if you were a true Christian then why would you want to follow the ways of those who don't believe in Jesus. I've always had a difficult time understanding why God still loves the Jews after all these years, but I guess its just another example of his unfailing love.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your comments, guys! The conversation is stimulating. Christen, the Scriptures are very clear about God's people including all who have faith in him and his Son, Jesus. Even the Old Testament contains many statements and prophecies about how God's people includes people from all nations, not just Israel, and that God was bringing in a new covenant. And the New Testament is equally clear that this new convenant was given to us by Jesus and that Abraham is the father of all who have faith (Romans 4). We have been set free from the requirements of the Law of Moses (Galatians 5).
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