One of the most beautiful ways that the Lord speaks to me is through His Word. I could sit there, reading and delighting in it, from sun up to sun down. One of the things I often notice as I read are repeated phrases or words. I recognize certain things in His Word through a leap in my spirit, flagging the words and causing me to look deeper. Once that happens, my heart leaps at the mention of that word or phrase from then on. It’s something that excites me and that I cannot ignore. One such instance involves the words “right hand.”
Seems ordinary enough, right? The majority of us have one. But His…His is power, authority and protection. It accomplishes deliverance, salvation and victory. Isaiah 48:13 tells us it created: “My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.” His right hand delivers us from our enemies, and in one swift move, through salvation of our souls saved us from the enemy of our souls. Jesus, our salvation, is exalted to the right hand of God and has authority over all things. All of your circumstances and all of the things you fear.
This is key. Because the right hand that has authority over all things is also the hand that holds you. Sweet friend in Christ, do you remember the song, “He’s got the whole world in his hand?” That includes you. You are engraved on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). His right hand holds and guides us (Psalm 139:10), its action strengthens, helps and upholds us (Isaiah 41:10), takes us by the hand and keeps us (Isaiah 42:6), and His hand holds our right hand and helps us (Isaiah 41:13).
I am right handed. Not all of us are, I understand, but that last verse specifically reads, ‘For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you”.’ His right hand, the hand of all that action, power and protection, holds ours. How many times do we, as a loving parent, hold our children’s hands to lead them, comfort them, or protect them as we walk them across a parking lot. Don’t miss that image: His hand, our Almighty Father’s, holds ours!
While that image is in your mind, picture this: His right hand holding your right hand. Close your eyes and picture it…rub your right thumb in your hand. In order for you to walk, hand in hand with someone, you must be walking at a similar pace. In order for you to walk with God, His right hand in your right hand, you must be in sync with Him. For instance, when you reach out to shake someone’s hand with your right hand, you’re facing them, but if you kept your hold on their right hand in yours and tried turn to walk, you would likely stumble and fall if you weren’t in step. If you let go of that hand, you could go your own way, but if you’re going to hold onto that right hand in your right hand, you have to be going the same direction to travel smoothly.
So it is with our walk with our God. His right hand holds and guides us, but we have to keep our eyes on Him and what He’s doing so we can walk in step with Him and minimize our stumbles. We must fix our eyes on Jesus to move with Him. If we let go of his right hand with ours and follow our own way, we become like the Israel did in Isaiah 44:20, ‘He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has lead him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”’ Letting go of Him leads to taking hold of a lie.
Hold His right hand in yours, fixing your eyes on Him, and let Him guide you. He is there, hand outstretched, just waiting for you to grasp it, no matter what season or pit your find yourself in. Fix your eyes on His loving gaze, take His hand in yours, and move under His guidance.
“Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:10
