Whose Hand Are You Holding?

Not long after falling asleep, I awoke with a start from a dream. In my dream, I saw two hands: my husband’s and mine, but in between, there appeared another hand. It was then that I woke up abruptly. Whose hand was that? Did this dream have any significance? I don’t know. It kept me awake for a while, and then I went back to sleep. The Bible uses the word hand fifty-six times. The hand often represents power, authority, and self-confidence, particularly the right hand. In one place, the right hand is spoken of as being used to restore life. Among many other things, it speaks of the hand giving support, the laying on of hands for healing and blessing, hands smitten together in extreme anger, and hands raised in thanksgiving. Jesus often put His hands on the sick when He healed them. The Lord’s right hand is said to be exalted, full of righteousness, majestic in power, and valiant. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:16, NKJV). That means Jesus knows each one of our names —yours and mine— and loves us so much He has engraved our names as a permanent record where He can see them any time He chooses. Hands are such a vital part of much that we do.

If we were to lose one of our limbs, it seems to me that the hand, particularly the dominant one, would be the hardest to do without.

Think of no longer being able to do the many things we do with our hands that are necessary, such as eating, dressing, grooming, cleaning, and many other things, not to mention the things we do for pleasure: playing games, cuddling a baby, or touching a loved one. Jesus invites us to put our hand in His and do what He would have us do to bring joy to our lives. We are told we will be recompensed for the work of our hands. Whose hand are you holding? Are you holding the hand of Jesus so He can lead you and recompense you with a home in His company throughout eternity?

Marian Hart-Gay