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"Through the Bible" Week 18. Mothers' Hands. Psalms 104:27, 28. ". . . all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.". It is a mother's hand.
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"Through the Bible" Week 18 • Mothers' Hands
Psalms 104:27, 28 • ". . . all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things."
It is mother's hand that always represents the best we can ever know of love expressed through self-sacrifice.
Proverbs 3:16 • "Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor."
Proverbs 31 - a Hebrew acrostic poem the virtues of women are praised, and where attention is drawn to the hands: • she "works with eager hands" (13) • she weaves with her hands (19) • she "extends her hands to the needy" (20)
"Give her of the fruit • of her hands; and let • her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs 31:31 - KJV)
"The Widow and Her Son“ • by • Lebanese poet, Kahlil Gibran
A few simple statements about God's hands. • In the Old Testament, we often learn about God's hand being upon His servants and great prophets, enabling them to accomplish what • otherwise they • could not.
"the hand of the LORD was on Elijah" (I Kings 18:46) • "I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me" (Ezra 7:28) • "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones" (Ezekiel 37:1). • "The hand of the Lord was with him (John the Baptist)." (Luke 1:66) • "The hand of the Lord was • with them: and a great • number believed and turned • unto the Lord." (Acts 11:21)
If the hand of God represents the power of God at work in the affairs of men, we see this openly displayed in the life and ministry of Jesus, for as we read the Gospels we often learn about the hands of Jesus.
". . . what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?" (Mark 6:2 - KJV)
Jesus’ hands were there for healing: • leper - Mt 8:2, 3 • Peter's Mother-in-law – Mt 8:15 • 12 year old daughter of Jairus - Mt 9:25 • deaf man - Mk 7:32-35 • blind man - Mk 8:23-25 • demon oppressed • boy - Mk 9:26 • the crippled • woman - Lk 13:12
"When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them." (Luke 4:40) • Even in Nazareth, Jesus laid ". . . his hands on a • few sick people • and healed them." • Mark 6:5
It was with His hands that Jesus conveyed His blessing. • With His hands He blessed the children - Mt 19:13-15 • And with His hands Jesus blessed the disciples – • Lk 24:50, 51
"The Touch of the Master's Hand" • by • Myra Brooks Welch
Today, while we give due honor to the tender nourishing and highly effective hands of our mothers, let us not forget Him whose hand can heal and change our lives like no human effort can ever do.
Luke 3:17 • "His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
I Samuel 12:14, 15 • "If you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers."
Isaiah 14:27 • "For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"
If God's hand is for love, mercy, and salvation; it is also for judgment.
God wants to open His hand and satisfy us with good things. It is our choice to make - to receive from His hand all those good things He has promised, or to have His hand turn against us in eternal judgment.