The Good Hand Of God
1. Worth Repeating, "The Good Hand Of God"
We have used several verses lately from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. I always enjoy reading through these books, and God shows me new things each time I read them again. During my most recent reading I saw the same phrase repeated again, and again, about the hand of God being upon him. I believe that if God repeats something several times, He must be trying to help us see and learn something from it. So, let's look at these and other similar verses and see what we can learn about "The Good Hand Of God."
2. Ezra And Nehemiah Experienced The Good Hand Of God In Their Lives
Let's begin with the verses from Ezra and Nehemiah about "The Good Hand Of God." Ezra and Nehemiah both accredited the hand of God upon them for the good that happened in their lives. Here are eight verses I found in these two books, and there may be more that I missed. As you read these scriptures think about how "The Good Hand Of God" has been with you and helped you through the years. I hope to follow up on some of the ideas portrayed in these verses.
Ezra 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
Ezra 7:9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezra 7:28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Ezra 8:18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
Ezra 8:31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
Nehemiah 2:8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
Nehemiah 2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
3. The Heart Of A Gentile King Was In The Hand Of God
Let's begin with our first reference to the hand of God in the book of Ezra. "This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him." (Ezra 7:6) "This Ezra" refers to the genealogy of Ezra in the first six verses of the chapter. Ezra could trace his ancestry all the way back to Aaron the Priest. He had been carried away with the captives to Babylon, but King Cyrus gave some of the Jews leave to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Notice the last part of the verse, "...the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him." The Prophet Isaiah foretold of Cyrus about 100 years before it came to pass. "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." (Isaiah 44:28) "Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;" (Isaiah 45:1) Ezra was a "ready scribe" and knew that the decision of Cyrus was none other than the hand of God. Another good verse is Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." This should encourage us today! We are instructed to pray for our leaders, but we don't have to worry about our future. God is in control and we are safe in His hands!
4. According To The Good Hand Of His God Upon Him
So, King Cyrus let the Jews return to Jerusalem, and some of them went. Let's continue where we left off yesterday...
"7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." (Ezra 7:7-10)
I like verse ten that tells us how Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord... and he acknowledged that "the good hand of his God" was upon him. Our God is good to all that seek Him. God is also a holy God and a God of judgment. We see this in the next chapter... "...The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him." (Ezra 8:22) God extends His mercy and grace to all who ask, but those who don't choose God will never know His goodness.
5. The Strong Hand Of My God Gives Me Strength
I was joking with little Lici one day when I was sitting on the floor and asked her to help me up. She wrapped her little hand around the ends of my fingers and pulled, as I lifted myself up off the floor. Except for this instance, if I need help I will ask someone who is stronger than me for help. Whether it is physically, financially, or spiritually. We recently completed a devotional study on "Be Strong In The Lord". We saw several sections of scriptures from Ezra and Nehemiah that told how God strengthened the hands of the people. Today we see more examples of the strong hand of God and how He strengthened His people. And we can be sure that our God still has a strong hand, and is in control, and we can find strength in Him!
"27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me." (Ezra 7:27-28)
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
"Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand." (Nehemiah 1:10)
"Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." (Isaiah 40:10)
"10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 136:10-12)
"For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people,..." (Isaiah 8:11)
"And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;" (Jeremiah 32:21)
6. The Good Hand Of God Brings Us Understanding
When God asked King Solomon what he desired, the king knew the importance of an understanding heart. God was pleased with his request and granted it, and gave him great wisdom.
"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee." (I Kings 3:9-12)
Our next verse in Ezra shows that they looked for men of understanding, "And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding,...)
"16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;" (Ezra 8:16-18)
The good hand of our God gives us wisdom and understanding.
"3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:3-6)
7. The Good Hand Of God Brings Us Protection
When our firstborn was around three years old he would sometimes be afraid at night. To help teach him that God was watching over him, we taught him a Bible verse. I can still hear his little voice repeating, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. - Psalm 56 verse 3." We have very encouraging words from Jesus in John 10:27-30. We are in the hand of Jesus, and in the hand of our Father. Nobody can pluck us out of the hand of our God! He keeps us safe and secure!
"27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one."
"21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us." (Ezra 8:21-23)
8. The Hand Of God Delivers Us
The Bible is filled with scriptures that tell of the hand of God delivering His people. David, just a shepherd boy, had faith that God would deliver him out of the hand of the giant. "This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." (I Samuel 17:46) The book of Daniel tells us of three Hebrews who refused to bow to the king's statue. They had faith that God would deliver them. "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king." (Daniel 3:17) Our next verses in our study in Ezra also tells how the hand of God delievered them from their enemies. "So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God. Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way." (Ezra 8:30-31)
As we celebrate the 4th of July, we are thankful for the hand of God delivering us from our enemies. No doubt, you can remember times when God delivered you from sickness, or financial distress, or harm's way. For those of us who have trusted in Jesus as our Savior, we will have a final and complete deliverance when He calls us home to live with Him eternally! Remember to thank the good Lord for His deliverance!
9. The Hand Of God Provides
In the book of Ezra, some of the Jews returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. In the book of Nehemiah, he made a petition to the king to return and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Artaxerxes the king not only gave him leave, but also gave him supplies that he needed. Nehemiah accredited this to "the good hand of my God upon me."
"4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." (Nehemiah 2:4-8)
Many want to claim the promise of Philippians 4:19, but we should also include verse 18. The Apostle Paul assured the church that as they had supplied his needs, God would also supply their needs.
"18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Another example of the hand of God supplying our needs is found in Ecclesiastes 2:24. When you work for something, it makes it that much more enjoyable to receive. If the youth of our nation are not soon taught to work for their needs, who will carry the heavy load of our country when our older people pass on? "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God."
10. The Hand Of The Lord Holds Us Up
When I learned to ride a bicycle my Dad would run along beside me and hold me up with his hand. When we help our children learn to walk we begin by holding their little hands. This gives them stability and confidence to keep on trying. As they begin to walk and grow, we continue to hold their hands to keep them close, to protect them, and to lead them in the right way. Many times Michael and I hold hands while we walk across a parking lot, or through stores. He started holding my hand 45 years ago, and I am glad we still have that "hand-holding" love for each other. Waiting in a doctor's office or in other stressful situations, holding someone's hand can relieve fears. The Lord accomplishes all of these things, and more, just by holding our hands!
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24)
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." (Isaiah 41:10 & 13)
"I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;" (Isaiah 42:6)
"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me." (Psalm 63:7-8)
"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip." (Psalm 18:35-36)
"Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand." (Psalm 73:23)
11. God's Hand Of Creation
We can look all around and see God's hand of creation. I don't know how anyone can look at all the beauty of the earth and not believe in God, the Creator. He created the skies that span the heavens and filled the waters in the deepest seas. He even formed man and woman, and desires to walk and talk with us. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) We serve an Almighty God!
"3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." (Psalm 95:3-6)
"Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together." (Isaiah 48:13)
The hand of God still holds the power of creation.
"17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it." (Isaiah 41:17-20)
12. God's Hand Of Salvation
I am reading in the book of Job and these verses made me thankful...
"30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both." (Job 9:30-33)
We could never wash ourselves clean enough to wash away our sins. We needed someone to hold the hand of God above and reach down to hold our hand and give us salvation, and that is just what Jesus did! "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:" (Isaiah 59:1) David prayed, "Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them." (Psalm 17:7) David also praised the Lord for "the saving strength of his right hand." "We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand." (Psalm 20:5-6) God's precious Son, Jesus Christ, stretched out His hands on the cross to give His life to pay for my sin, so that I could be washed whiter than snow. Have you prayed to Jesus and asked Him to forgive you of your sin so that you could be saved?
13. Jesus Blessed The Children
It is such a blessing and joy to spend time with my grandchildren. It is a shame that many in our society today don't feel the love and joy that children can bring. The disciples didn't want Jesus to take time for the children, but He took them in His arms and blessed them. I am sure that God is displeased with those who mistreat babies and children.
"13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:13-16)
14. God's Hand Of Compassion
For a year and a half we have been told to keep our distance from others and to wear masks. Imagine how a leper felt during the time when Christ walked on earth. They had to keep their distance even from their family and wear a cloth over their face. Think of the lonliness and sadness they faced every day. We see the compassion of Jesus as He reached out and touched the leper.
"40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." (Mark 1:40-42)
With compassion, Jesus touched and healed the multitudes. "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." (Matthew 20:34) "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them." (Luke 4:40) Jesus also had compassion on the multitudes and broke the bread to feed them. "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:... And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people." (Mark 8:2 & 6)
And in His compassion, He saved me! "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy." (Psalm 145:8) We need to have a hand of compassion towards others.
"21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (Jude 21-23)
15. We Are In The Hands Of The Potter
I have enjoyed looking at, "The Good Hand Of God", and there are more verses we could look at, but I am excited about beginning a new theme so I am going to end this series with the hands of the Potter. During our Youth Jubilee one year Preacher Mike Soop taught the whole week on, "The Potter And The Clay." He had a potter's wheel and used it as an object lesson for each sermon. He had several good points, but what meant so much to me was the fact that the potter always keeps his hand on the clay. Our God is a good God. He wants to lead us in the right pathway. He desires to walk with us and talk with us each day. He is molding us to be more like Jesus. This lesson from the book of Jeremiah was written to Israel, but it also speaks to other nations, and it's time for America to repent of our evil and turn our hearts back to God. "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." (Isaiah 64:8)
"1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them." (Jeremiah 18:1-10)
