The hand of the Lord
by Stuart Gray
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But I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them (Isaiah 41:17b).
This passage begins by saying the poor and needy search for water, but there is none. How often do we search for what is missing in our lives, and it appears to not be available? We search for peace, health, loving relationships, stable work, security for our families and spiritual satisfaction, among many other things.
And how often does it feel like these things are missing or elusive – we can look for what we want, but it’s not quite there. We still need to search.
But, as is reiterated many times in the Bible, God says he will be there for his people. He will answer our prayers, and he will not forsake us. Not only that, but in this passage, God says he will transform the desolate into rich pastures, make rivers flow on barren heights and grow great trees in the desert. God not only hears us and has promised not to abandon us, but he also showers us with abundance and great riches beyond what we can comprehend or deserve.
God wants us to see, know and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
We live in a country and period of history that has been like no other in terms of material wellbeing, medical knowledge and technology that frees us from hard, physical labour and gives us unprecedented access to information, an abundance of food and healthier and longer lifespans, and so on.
We should be shouting thanks and praise to God from the rooftops. But look around, and we see people depressed and despairing. We hear young people say they will not have a family because there is no future for the world. Even Christian churches are subscribing to the doomsday mantras of the day. We preach a God who creates and sustains the world with abundance, but we teach our children scarcity.
Let’s hear and understand what God is telling us. He will not forsake us. And as a guarantee of that promise, he sent his Son to die on the cross so that we may have life in abundance.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the abundance you shower upon us. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we pray that in our hearts and minds, we consider and understand how you sustain this world. Help us be confident in your promise to answer our prayers and that you would never abandon us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
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