Forgetting the former things, and looking forward to the new things

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV): Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Notice the words 'now it shall spring forth' here? The time is now to 'get rid of the old, and welcome the new'! In Philippians 3:13, the apostle Paul wrote, "... But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." 

  

Isaiah 44:3 (NKJV) says, 'For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessings on your offspring'.

This is also a time His Spirit and His blessings are being poured out upon you. As you 'get rid of the old, and welcome the new', heaven is also 'opening its door' for you, pouring out His rain (water) and blessings upon you (in any area of your life that you allow Him to). With men, things may be impossible, but with God, all things are possible (Luke 18:27). If He can make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, He can make all things possible for you.

Isaiah 43:13 (NKJV) says, 'Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?'

He is the Great I Am, and when He works, no one can reverse. Just like when winter ends, and spring comes, no one can stop God! The Bible says 'there is no one who can deliver out of His hand'. In cross-reference, Revelation 3:8 (NIV) says, '… See. I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut'.

People of God, God can open the door for you even in the most unexpected of times! God can even set 'good things' up for you even in the midst of your 'routine' work! For example, Peter (while He was washing his fishing nets after a whole night of toiling) and David (while He was bringing breakfast to his brothers).

God opened the door for new things in Peter’s life 

Unexpectedly, at a time when Peter was rather down and exhausted (after having toiled much and with no results), Jesus came into his boat and changed his life forever. See Luke 5:3-6, Luke 5:8-11.

God opened the door for new things in David’s life

Unexpectedly, at a time when David was doing a seemingly mundane job (of bringing breakfast for his brothers who were at the army camp), God set up an appointment for him that changed his life forever. See 1 Samuel 17:17-20, 1 Samuel 17:22-23, 1 Samuel 17:32.

See? Unexpected divinely-arranged appointments set up by none other but the Great I Am! Call it a 'pleasant surprise' if you may! Praise God! 

In the morning, Peter was struggling to catch even one fish, but later on that same day, he became the partner and co-worker of the One who owns all the fishes in the world!

In the morning, David was just humbly doing a menial task of serving breakfast to his brothers, but later on that same day, he was exalted by God to be a national hero, having single-handedly defeated Goliath, the champion of the Philistines!

All happened on the same day for each of them! 

And just as happened to Peter and David in those days, it can also come in the most unexpected way (and suddenly) for you these days. God hasn't changed in the way He works. He is indeed the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Of course, God saw them ready, even though they didn't even know they were ready! God's timing is always the best!

People of God, this is a time of 'open doors' and God's favor upon His people (even if others may say or report otherwise). The Bible says so, and that's what matters most. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy, and those who are humble will be exalted, yes, often times even in the most unexpected manner. Amen.

The good hand of the Lord be upon you!

Ezra 8:31 (NKJV): Then we (Ezra and the people) departed from the river of Ahava (in Babylon) on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road.

The word ‘hand’ here is ‘yad’ in Hebrew (implies ‘open hand’, and not ‘closed hand’ – there’s another word for ‘closed hand’ in Hebrew), where the word ‘yadah’ (praise, celebration, lift up hands) comes from. And it's from this word ‘yadah’ comes the word ‘Judah’ (‘Yehowdah’).

God’s good hand was upon Ezra when he led a delegation to Jerusalem to provide spiritual leadership for the former captives who were rebuilding the temple and the city. Praise God! After years of being in exile, the Jews eventually saw Cyrus (the Persian) conquer Babylon, and he (Cyrus) then allowed them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the city.

There's something interesting about the word ‘Ezra’ here. It is ‘Ezrawth’ in Hebrew, from the word ‘Ezer’, meaning 'help, aid, surround, protect'. This speaks of ‘the hand that helps’. In fact, the whole book of Ezra speaks of ‘the good hand of God’ upon them as Ezra (and his people) walked in God's divine destiny for them to rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem. Some scholars believe Ezra himself wrote this book (of Ezra), which described how he (Ezra, a priest from the lineage of Aaron, also a scribe, an expert in God’s law) experienced the good hand of God upon his life.

Ezra 7:6 (NJKV) reads, 'This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses ... The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him'.

  

Ezra 7:9 (NKJV) reads, '... On the first day of the fifth month, he (Ezra) came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him'.

Ezra 7:28 (NKJV) says, 'So I (Ezra) 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 8:18 (NKJV) then says, 'Then by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men'. 

You see, all the above verses describe the good hand of the Lord upon Ezra, in one way or another.

His hand is definitely greater and mightier than any man’s hand, and definitely greater and mightier than the devil’s hand. His hand also sweeps away all forms of plot, conspiracy, or trickery of men or the devil against you. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (NKJV) says, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all." This was part of David's praise to God towards the end of his own life on earth, as he blessed the Lord before all the assembly before him.

By the way, the word ‘hand’ in Webster's Dictionary speaks of ‘an instrument of the body for grasping and gripping’, and it is a symbol of authority, power, and control. But fear not, because His hand is good, not evil. His hand is like those of good parents’ (father’s or mother’s) hands that comfort (and bring assurance). Some believers have even experienced the invisible (yet tangible) hand of God touching their shoulder or their heart, and bringing them deep comfort in times when they needed it most. 

From Bible-study, one can categorize 'the hand of God' into seven major functions:

1. His hand covers you (see Exodus 33:22)

2. His hand guides you (see Isaiah 8:11)

3. His hand raises you to be who He wants you to be (see 1 Corinthians 6:14, Ephesians 1:19-20)

4. His hand lifts you up from the pit (see Psalm 119:173, Psalm 144:7)

5. His hand comforts you in the midst of trials (see Isaiah 49:14-16)

6. His hand provides for you and gives you good things (see Nehemiah 2:8)

7. His hand saves and rescues (including heals and delivers) you (see Psalm 18:6 leading to Psalm 18:35)

The number 'seven' here is the number for 'perfection' in Hebrew. This speaks of God's perfect hand. The number 'seven' is also the number for 'sovereignty, purification, and consecration'. So, His hand is also a sovereign hand, a pure hand, and a holy hand. Allow His good hand in your life. Amen.

When you 'take things into your own hands', you'll soon realize His hand will not be there (i.e. He will ‘hands off’). 'Taking things into your own hands' here speaks of ‘self-effort', but His hand speaks of ‘His ability’ or ‘His grace’ (i.e. 'His ability to do for you what you cannot do for yourself'). Therefore, instead of worrying unnecessarily over the problem you are facing now, allow His good hand to take over right now. The supplies from His good hand always flow towards you because of what happened at the cross!

In the Old Covenant, you may see on many occasions, God’s hand judges or punishes, but in the New Covenant, know that Jesus’ pair of hands was ‘punished’ on the cross for you instead! His open palms were nailed and pierced on the wooden cross, and He took upon Himself all your punishment, judgement, and sins on His hands! 

His hands on the cross are the hands that our many sins have nailed and pierced. In other words, when you should be ‘nailed’ (‘punished’ for your sins), He was 'nailed' (‘punished’) for you instead! Now let's get back to the word ‘yad’ (where ‘yadah’ comes from). He could not celebrate ('yadah') on the cross then, because He suffered immensely for you (His pair of hands was nailed and pierced, among all other sufferings on the cross), so you can now 'celebrate, praise, and give thanks' ('yadah') freely! You see, the One who is the Lion of Judah ('Yehowdah') gave it all up, so that you can now ‘celebrate, praise, and give thanks' for His immeasurable goodness to you today!

Therefore, as a believer in the New Covenant, always remember and believe that His good hand is always with you and upon you, every day, and in every area of your life. Amen!

Personally, as a writer for the Lord, I have also always believed that His hand will always be upon my hand every time I write for Him. Many times, I could literally feel His warm, tangible (albeit invisible) hand upon my hand as I write. Praise God!

People of God, I pray His hand will also be upon your hand as well from now on (in whatever you do with your hand, e.g. in writing for the Lord, in preparing business plans/proposals, in playing musical instruments, in drawing, in painting, or even in giving somebody a handshake!). Watch His favor flow from here! Praise God! In 1 Chronicles 28:19, David said, "All this, the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me (my hands), all the work (details) of these plans (to instruct Solomon to build the Temple)."

As you are being guided by His hand, I also pray you'll also be led by Him into the right place, at the right time, and doing the right things (i.e. walking into His divine appointments for you). 

People of God, a year of glory is at hand! And God has this to say to you this year: 'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand' (Isaiah 41:10). Receive this promise of His today, and for this whole year.

May His good hand be with you and upon you not just today, but throughout this whole year - day by day, week by week, and month by month. In Jesus' name. Amen.