God’s Right Hand

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Today's reading I entitled God's Right Hand.

I'm Elisa Morgan. I helped my elderly dog Wilson out to the grass, and in the process I released the leash of our younger dog, Coach, for just a minute. As I bent to pick up Coach's lead, he spied a bunny. Off he went, ripping the leash from my right hand and corkscrewing my ring finger in the process. I fell to the ground and cried out in pain. After returning from urgent care and learning I would need surgery, I begged God for help. I'm a writer. How will I type?

What about my daily duties? As God sometimes he spoke to me from my daily Bible reading. For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear, I will help you.

I scanned the context which indicated that God's people in Judah, to whom Isaiah was communicating his message, enjoyed a special relationship with him. He promised his presence, strength, and help through his own righteous standing symbolized by his right hand. Elsewhere in scripture God's right hand is used to secure victories for his people.

During my weeks of recovery I experienced encouragement from God as I learned to dictate on my computer and trained my left hand in household and grooming functions. From God's righteous right hand to our broken and needy right hands, God promises to be with us and to help us. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 41 verses 8 through 13. But you Israel, my servant Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, you are my servant. I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced. Those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them.

Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear, I will help you. Let's pray. Healing God, we need your help.

Please come close to us. Heal what is broken. Set right that which is out of joint. Hold us and carry us and provide for us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.