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God's
Out-stretched Hand
by
Ray Prinzing
"For the Lord of hosts hath
purposed, and who shall disannul
it? and His hand is stretched
out, and who shall turn it
back?"
(Isaiah 14:27)
The sovereignty of God, the
immutability of His purpose, and
the power for its fulfillment
bring great hope to us who are
so fragile and limited in our
human abilities. We rejoice to
find in our Lord no limitation
or defeat. The hand of the Lord
is stretched out - to right the
wrong, correct the situation,
balance the score, until
righteousness and peace shall be
established in the earth. Nor
will He be satisfied with just a
partial victory. Salvation is
to be "to the uttermost"
(Hebrews 7:25), and He shall
not be satisfied with anything
less, nor allow us to settle for
less. Thus the processes
continue until we are brought
into the very fulness of the
measure of the stature of
Christ.
The very first usage of this
phrase "His hand is stretched
out," is in Exodus 3:20),
"I will stretch out My hand, and
smite Egypt with all My wonders
which I will do in the midst
thereof: and after that he will
let you go."
We know what the purpose was in
regards to Israel, it resulted
in their freedom from slavery, a
deliverance out of Egypt. But
what was the purpose of all this
as far as the Egyptians were
concerned? Surely it was more
than just the wrath of God being
poured upon them. Yes, for
"the Egyptians were concerned?
Surely it was more than just the
wrath of God being poured upon
them. Yes, for "the
Egyptians SHALL KNOW THAT I AM
THE LORD, when I stretch forth
Mine hand upon Egypt, and bring
out the children of Israel from
among them." (Exodus
7:5). And God's message to
Pharaoh was clear, "That thou
mayest know that there is none
like Me in all the earth... and
is very deed for this cause have
I raised thee up, for to shew in
thee My power; and that My name
may be declared throughout all
the earth." (Exodus 9:14,
16).
Wonder of wonders, the working
of God, both to bring forth
victory for those who love Him,
but also to reveal Himself to
all men, just and unjust.
The outflow of His love and
grace
Shall reach to every man,
And none can stay the Hand
that works
The fulness of His plan.
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