1317. He Helps Us with His Hand
He Helps Us with His Hand
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.
"For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" (Isa_41:10, Isa_41:13).
When Peter saw the beggar at the beautiful gate of the Temple, he said unto him, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee. * * Rise up and walk." And then Peter took him by his hand and lifted him up. Our God does not only tell us to walk, but He reaches forth His hand to help us to walk.
The Apostle Paul said, "The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man shall do unto me." The words of the Psalmist were a comfort to the Apostle in the many conflicts which he met in his journeyings and in his ministrations for Christ. He knew that there was One Who always went with him; One Who said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Surely we shall be holden up, for God is able to make us stand. Let us note five comforting passages which show God's care for His children, in His promise to be with them and help them with His hand.
1. Mat_28:20 : "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age." This passage gives us assurance that wherever we go as believers, there is One walking at our side, Who will hold us by the hand, Who will help us in our conflicts, even unto the end of the age.
2. Gen_28:15 : "Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest. * * I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." This carries the thought of Mat_28:20 over again, but here God is speaking to Jacob after that he, in his dream, had seen the ladder reaching from earth to Heaven. God was comforting Jacob and telling him He would be with him, walking at his side, holding him by the hand. What is more comforting, as we journey through the darkness of this age, than to know that our Lord is near? The little child, in the night time, is fully assured when he feels the touch of the mother's hand. Let us then, assure our hearts, for God is a God at hand and not a God afar off.
3. Act_18:9-10 : "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee." When the enemy surrounds us, when persecutions lower about us, when it seems we will be overwhelmed, then we delight to feel the touch of the Master's hand, as He assures us that He will be our helper, walking by our side. He will take care of His own.
4. 2Ti_4:16-17 : "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. * * Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known." The Apostle Paul understood what it was to have the Lord Jesus walking by his side, holding him by the hand, strengthening him, encouraging him, delivering him, and preserving Him unto the Heavenly Kingdom. Many times he would have stumbled by the way, had it not been that there was One Who gripped his hand, Who was able to keep him from stumbling.
5. Isa_43:2 : "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned." Our God is with us, no matter what happens. No waters ever dash so high, no rivers ever run so swiftly, no fire is ever kindled so hot, but what our Lord can lead us through. Therefore He says unto us, "Fear not * * I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine." Therefore He says unto us, "I know My sheep and am known of Mine." He calls us by name, He leads us out, He goes before us. Thank God that we have such an One to walk with us along the way.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR