Engraved on His Hands

A funny, little carved figurine I inherited from my Great Aunt sits on my mantle.  It is a figure of a man, looking somewhat like a monk, who is leaning into a very large hand.  This seems strange to those who see it for the first time.  It did to me.  But when I picked it up and read the inscription on the bottom, it all made sense to me.  What does it say on the bottom?  Handwritten in black ink, it says, “Isaiah 49:15.”

Beginning at the end of Isaiah 49:15 and reading through to verse 16, the Bible says, “…I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” (NIV)  This carving is an artist’s illustration of one of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.  The teaching that God is a personal God, a God who knows us and can be known personally. He isn’t far away, off and involved in some other complicated issue in the Universe, too busy to notice us.  He sees us and wants to be involved in our lives.

In Matthew 10:29-31 says, Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (ESV)

 

I find great comfort in these verses, especially in difficult times.  As our family travels through a difficult time right now with my daughter’s health, we have kept on our kitchen table a simple, yellow piece of paper with Psalm 23:14-15 written on it, “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.”(KJV)  Sometimes, many times, we need a reminder like this.  We need to remember that God is with us, that He cares, and that He will direct us.

The Jewish holiday, Purim, is celebrated this week.  Purim is the holiday in which the Jews remember Esther and how God rescued the Jewish people from extinction through an amazing series of events that only He could have orchestrated.  Although the name of God is not ever mentioned in the book of Esther, it speaks to us, “God is involved in the details of our lives.”

And, of course, this is also the week of Easter.  As many reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it may be tempting to view His sacrifice on a universal, or non-personal, level.  One can be thinking, “He died for mankind,” but not thinking, “He died for me.”

Whether you take time this week to read the resurrection story again or the book of Esther, remember that God is a personal God.  Hold on to the hope that He sees you, knows you, and loves you, too.  As the prophet Isaiah said so many years ago, God has engraved you on the palms of His hands, His nail pierced hands, that forever bear the scars of His redeeming love for you.

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Some scripture text was taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, copyright 1973, 1978 by the International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers, as noted, NIV.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Empty Tomb photo is from freebibleimages.org