THE HAND OF THE ALMIGHTY (8)

“For by STRENGTH of HAND the LORD brought you out of this place” – Exodus 13:3

The HAND of the ALMIGHTY GOD signifies STRENGTH and DELIVERANCE: “And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by STRENGTH of HAND the Lord brought you out of this place. No unleavened bread shall be eaten” (Exo.13:3). This statement occurs two more times in this text: “And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a STRONG HAND the Lord has brought you out of Egypt” (vv.8-9); “It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for with STRENGTH of HAND the Lord brought us out of Egypt” (v.16).

Exodus 13 captures God’s Instructions to Israel upon their deliverance from Egypt. Specifically, it contains instructions concerning the firstborn (vv.1-2); and the feast of unleavened bread (vv.3-7). The first born – of man or beast – belongs to God and was to be consecrated or set apart to Him. The reasons are not far-fetched. Israel had been declared to be God’s firstborn (Exo.4:22). Also, Israel had been saved through the destruction of Egypt’s firstborn, and now they were required to dedicate their own firstborn as a constant memorial of their deliverance by God’s Strong and Mighty Hand; a reminder to all generations of when God redeemed Israel, His firstborn from Egypt! By this feast, they were to tell their children the testimonies of their deliverance from the House of Bondage (vv.8-10).

God wanted their deliverance from Egypt to be constantly at hand and before their eyes. The Jews used this passage (along with Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21) to institute the practice of wearing phylacteries – small boxes holding parchment with scriptures on them, to the forehead or hand with leather straps. Jesus condemned the abuse of this practice among the Pharisees, who made their phylactery boxes large and ostentatious to display supposed superior spirituality (Mt.23:5). Beyond bearing heavy boxes of scriptures, God is more concerned about His law being in our mouth: “that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth” (v.9). The law of dedicating the firstborn to God was to take effect in the Promised Land, when the need for a reminder of their deliverance would be all the more necessary (vv.11-16).

Both the feast of unleavened bread and the practice of dedicating the firstborn to God were reminders of God’s great work and strong power. Moses repeatedly reminded the people of the Strong Hand of the Lord, that was part of their lives, spanning their past, present and future. Similarly, we as Believers in Christ, need to know and be reassured that the Mighty Hand of the Lord is with us. This is the greatest comfort any human being can know. To imagine a future without the Lord and His Mighty Hand in our lives, is to admit anxiety, fear, dread, and hopelessness. When we contemplate a future, with the full knowledge that God, by His Mighty Hand, will accompany us, we can be bold, determined, fearless, and secure. We must never underestimate God’s Mighty Hand in our lives.

When we remind ourselves that the Strength of the Hand of the Almighty is with us, we are filled with positivity and hope. God’s Hand is more than able to deliver what He has promised and to perform surpassing our expectations. God is great and powerful, and His Hand is mighty beyond description, and reaches beyond all the limitations of life.

Beloved, when you’re facing challenges or hard times; when it feels like God has abandoned you; when you feel lonely and things do not seem to be working out like you had hoped; remember that the Lord who delivered Israel from the House of Bondage is with you, with His Strong and Mighty Hand! He remains mighty to save, to deliver, and to prosper!