THE HAND OF THE ALMIGHTY (6)

“What you give them they gather in; YOU OPEN YOUR HAND, they are filled with good” – Psalm 104:28

The HAND of the ALMIGHTY GOD in evidenced in the Wonders of Creation and Provision: “These all wait for You. That You may give them their food in due season. What you give them they gather in; YOU OPEN YOUR HAND, they are filled with good” (Psa.104:27-28). God’s Hand is mentioned more than one hundred times in the Bible, from creation, to miracles, to moments of mercy and comfort. The Bible is imbued not only with celebrations of God’s creation, but also with creation’s celebration of its Creator through the display of His love, beauty, and power: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the WORK of HIS HANDS” (Psa.19:1. NAS). God does whatever He wills by His Hand. However, His Wonders of Omnipotence are particularly known in the aspects of Creation and Provision.

The Hand of the Almighty in Creation: “Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He makes the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind” (vv.2-3). Psalm 104 is a song about God’s Wisdom and Power as seen in nature, beginning with the splendour of the heavens: The light of the sun, the expanse of sky reaching down to meet the earth on the horizon, the drift of clouds blown by the wind, and the flashes of lightning! All of these speak of the magnificence of God who dwells in and rules over the Universe (vv.1-4). Land and sea also display the greatness of God. He determined where they should be and how far they should extend: “You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever” (v.5); “Indeed MY HAND has laid the foundation of the earth, and MY RIGHT HAND has stretched out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand up together” (Isa.48:13).

The Hand of the Almighty in Provision: Mountains and rivers show God’s complete control over the powers of nature, so that the land is well watered and able to support life (vv.8-13). The Lord sets the boundaries of the seas “You have set a boundary that they may not pass over, that they may not return to cover the earth” (v.9). By the same Hand, the Lord is able to set boundaries and barriers against our enemies and their waters of affliction. Subject to His control, the earth supplies people and animals with food and all other resources necessary to live in safety and security (vv.14-18). He arranges the succession of seasons, night and day, and other rhythms of nature, to meet the needs of various forms of life (vv.19-23). Then, comes a brief interlude of praise God for the vastness of His creation and the wisdom that designed and sustains it: “O Lord, how manifold are Your woks! In wisdom, You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions” (v.24).

The immeasurable sea – full of the most wonderful creatures – speaks of God’s greatness. Ships sail on it for distances farther than the eye can see or the mind imagine (vv.25-26). Above all, the Hand of the Lord provides for all creatures as they look up to Him (vv.27-28). Man may not appreciate this like the lower animals who have no resources of their own. They cannot invent anything. They cannot skilfully vary their food as man does or prepare their meals to suit and pamper their appetite. Yet, their provision comes prepared for them directly by the Hand of the Lord! They are wholly dependent on Him for sustenance. They hardly have to labour to prepare meals, but have only to gather it up. “They are filled with good” – If the Hand of the Lord can satisfy the birds of the air and the beasts of the fields, why not You and I?

The saying goes that: “Those who leave everything in God’s Hand will eventually see God’s Hand in everything”! That’s scriptural and true!