GOD’S RIGHT HAND

I helped my elderly dog, Wilson, out to the grass and in the process, I released the leash of our younger dog, Coach, for just a minute. As I bent to pick up Coach’s lead, he spied a bunny. Off he went, ripping the leash from my right hand and corkscrewing my ring finger in the process. I fell to the grass and cried out in pain.

After returning from urgent care and learning I’d need surgery, I begged God for help. “I’m a writer! How will I type? What about my daily duties?” As God sometimes does, He spoke to me from my daily Bible reading. “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13). I scanned the context, which indicated that God’s people in Judah, to whom Isaiah was communicating His message, enjoyed a special relationship with Him. He promised His presence, strength, and help through His own righteous standing, symbolized by His right hand (v. 10). Elsewhere in Scripture, God’s right hand is used to secure victories for His people (Psalm 17:7; 98:1).

During my weeks of recovery, I experienced encouragement from God as I learned to dictate on my computer and trained my left hand in household and grooming functions. From God’s righteous right hand to our broken and needy right hands, God promises to be with us and to help us.

Read: Isaiah 41:8-13 (NIV)

8 “But you, Israel, my servant,^k

Jacob, whom I have chosen,^l

you descendants of Abraham^m my friend,ⁿ

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,^o

from its farthest corners I called^p you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;^q

I have chosen^r you and have not rejected you.

10 So do not fear,^s for I am with you;^t

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen^u you and help^v you;

I will uphold you^w with my righteous right hand.^x

11 “All who rage^y against you

will surely be ashamed and disgraced;^z

those who oppose^a you

will be as nothing and perish.^b

12 Though you search for your enemies,

you will not find them.^c

Those who wage war against you

will be as nothing^d at all.

13 For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand^e

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help^f you.

INSIGHT

1. How do you need God’s help today?
2. How have you experienced His help in the past?

Isaiah, whose name means “the Lord saves,” prophesied for about fifty years (740–685 bc). He warned an unrepentant, idolatrous Judah that God would use the Assyrians and the Babylonians to discipline her for her covenantal unfaithfulness (chs. 1–39). But Isaiah also speaks of God’s grace for those who repent and a future glorious restoration (chs. 11; 40–66). In Isaiah 41:8–13, God reminds His people that they have a special relationship with Him—they’ve been sovereignly “chosen” to be “his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6–8); they’re “the apple of his eye” (32:10). They were the descendants of Abraham, whom God affectionately called “my friend” (Isaiah 41:8). Only Abraham and Moses (Exodus 33:11) were privileged to be called God’s friend. Judah is accorded a special status as “my servant” (Isaiah 41:8–9)—the same honorific name given to Moses (Malachi 4:4) and David (1 Kings 11:13).

PRAYER

Healing God, I need Your help! Please use Your righteous right hand to take hold of my broken, weary hands and help me, I pray. In Jesus name. Amen!!

Read: Isaiah 41:8-13 (NIV)  | Bible in a Year: Zechariah 1-4; Revelation 18