Engaging the hand of God in our lives 1 Samuel 7, 13
So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel (1 Samuel 7, 13).
The children of Israel subdue the Philistines throughout the lifetime of Samuel and the hand of God was against their enemies.
The word of God not only subdues the enemy but engages the hand of God on our behalf. The bible says “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10, 31) for the hand of God is powerful and mighty (1 Peter 5, 6) to lift the humble and to discipline the disobedient (“Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed” Judges 2, 15).
In the bible we see how the hand of God intervened for His people by delivering them from bondage (“So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders” Deuteronomy 26:8). But the hand of God does more than delivering us from the oppression of the wicked just to mention a few.
The hand of God gives us favour: “this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him” (Ezra 7, 6).
The hand of God empowers us for His work: “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11, 21).
The hand of God encourages us: “So I was encouraged, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me” (Ezra 7, 28)
The hand of God brings down the fulfilment of prophecies: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David” (2 Chronicles 6, 4)
The hand of the Lord guides us: Ezra 8, 18-31).
The hand of God changes our lives and beautify it: “You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, And a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (Isaiah 62, 3).
What is the hand of God?
The hand of God is the demonstration of His power and His performing ability in our lives. It is a symbol of God’s might as the great warrior but also as a loving Father that guides us with His hands.
How do we then get the hand of God to move in our lives?
By believing, trusting, and confessing the word of God but also by obeying His instructions.
The word of God is a powerful sword to fight off our enemy (Hebrews 4, 12), a shield to protect us (Proverbs 30, 5), a light to guide us (Psalm 119, 105). It builds our faith (Romans 10, 11) and sanctifies us (Ephesians 5, 26). We activate the hand of God through His word.
As Jesus said: “blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11, 28).
