Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Regardless of what happens, we are undergirded by the limitless strength of God. The walk of faith requires us to learn to rely on that strength.
Imagine a man sinking in quicksand. A strong man comes to help him and reaches out his hand, but the sinking man says, “No, thanks, I will rely on my own strength to extricate myself.” That is what we do when we fail to rely on God’s strength and power.
We are quick to consult friends when we have trouble, but are we also quick to consult God? We find it easy to turn to the credit card when we have an unforeseen expense, but do we turn to our Father in heaven? We are quick to retaliate when we are wronged, but do we ever leave the matter in the hands of God?
The Torah reminds us that "underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27).
In the days of King Hezekiah, the evil king of Assyria came to make war on the tiny nation of Judah. King Hezekiah prepared for the onslaught of the overpowering Assyrian Empire. He encouraged the people of Jerusalem by saying, “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:7–8).
The “arm of flesh” that Hezekiah spoke of refers to human strength. Though the Assyrian Empire had the strongest military machine of the age, its strength was only human strength. The tiny nation of Judah had no real human strength to boast of in the face of the imperial army, but they had the strength of the arm of the LORD to rely on. Human arms tire and fail. Human strength is limited, but God’s strength is tireless.
Moses encourages us to remember that, regardless of what happens, we are undergirded by the limitless strength of God. The walk of faith requires us to learn to rely on that strength. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Psalm 44:3
“ … nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and Your arm (saved them)…
PS - What I found interesting is that the Hebrew word for ‘arm’ is זְרוֹעַ – z’roah. Israel was redeemed from Egypt with HaShem’s strong hand and His’ outstretched arm” -uvizru’ah netuyah’.
Now, on the seder plate when we gather together to observe Pesach is a roasted shankbone, a memorial of the Passover lamb that was slain in Egypt, and its blood appliedto the doorposts and lintils of the Israelite homes. Ther angel of death passed over the houses that had applied the blood. This roasted shankbone is called “z’roah”. His outstreched arm that is always beneath us, supports, comforts and strengthen us . Yeshua is the Father’s outstretched right arm and His invitation stands, “come to Me, all who are weary and heavily laden …. and I will give you rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28-30). This eternal rest is promised in Jeremiah 6:16 and finds its fulfillment in Yeshua of Nazareth.
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