The New Year is upon us. It came with the same expectations and newly found resolutions as all others have before it. What a time! What an opportunity! What a grace!
I will not ask the ceremonious phrase of, “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?” I would rather ask, “Would you like the hand of the Lord to be with you in 2026?” I assume most of us would answer in the affirmative but not truly understand what the phrasing means. Moses states, “but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:8, NKJV). In this, we find God’s motive, mastery, and mystique in keeping His promises.
Firstly, motive. God loves. Isn’t it just a simple proclamation that we can know and have the love of God? I think so. The Apostle John states emphatically that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). If you notice in the passage that God’s love is not predicated by the actions of man, nor his capability to give back to Him, but that simply God IS love! (Psalm 86:5).
Secondly, God’s mastery over time, space, and matter. Notice Moses is recounting the undeniable fact that it was the Hebrew God who had delivered Israel from their enslavement in Egypt. This was accomplished by miracles, wonders, and signs, which could ONLY reference the supernatural. (Exodus 7:1-12:51). These miracles, still unreplicated today, stand as an eternal testimony of God and His terrestrial command.
Lastly, the mystique of God. No one in Egypt ever saw the Lord, our God, who resides in Heaven, but they felt the awesome power of His Hand! Pharaoh acknowledged His power, stating, “…Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord (Eternal) as you have said” (Exodus 12:31b). God’s vast wonder stood in the resolute nature that a man, even if he was considered a “god” by other men, could not and would not ever succeed at “staying the hand of God”. The Hebrew writer states, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (10:31). Therefore, it makes common sense that we would rather have the Hand of the Lord with us instead of against us. In Acts 11, we see the Young Church, early in its work and tenacity. There were even those from neighboring nations who joined the workers (Acts 11:20). So much so that the Bible records, “When he (Barnabas) came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” (Acts 11:23). The major emphasis is this, God will ALWAYS hold His Hand over His work…done by you, me, or anyone. Only His Hand saves, ask Pharaoh! Period. BUT, if we desire His Hand to ALSO be over US, we need to be more like those in the Early Church and get to work! Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Are you ready for the work? He has His hand over both. Think about it and God Bless,
Dr. Archie R. Green