“Engraved On The Palms Of The LORD’S Hands!”

“Engraved On The Palms Of The LORD’S Hands!”(Is.49:1-16).
Predestination may be a perennial debate, but the Scripture is definite that God knows the end from the beginning.
With the heart of faith I can say with confidence:“Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ‘You are my servant… in whom I will display my splendor.’
However the pilgrim journey from the beginning to the end may have smooth and rocky paths. Some places may have cool refreshing springs, and the journey may also include deserts where we can only manage to salvage our thirst from oasis. Since the journey is tumultuous we doubt our confidence when we are tired and weary. At such moments we may say, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
When you think all is lost is when the LORD plans to reassign you differently: “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth… Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord… ‘In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’… For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”
We are prone to sink into the pool of despair when things are not going the way we want and in frustration we cry out, “‘The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.”
But hear the response of the LORD: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…'”
Oh yes! Many as we are, the LORD sees us and our every action on the palms of his hands as on a television screen.
We should continue to look up to the One he chose from the beginning to be our Saviour; for through our journey of faith is safe and the comfort of our destination secured.
Prayer: Thank you, LORD, for engraving me on the palms of your hands. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you! Merry Christmas and a fulfilling New Year!
Rev Babila Fochang.
15/01/2025.