There’s something about getting to Isaiah 40 that lifts the spirit. For most of the past 39 chapters the tone has been confrontational and judgmental . . . appropriately so, for God will not share his glory with another . . . He will not allow sin and rebellion to go unpunished . . . He loves His people too much to not take out all the stops to bring them to their senses and seek to turn their hearts back towards Him. Having said that, it’s not really “fun” reading.

But then you get to Isaiah 40 . . . and you read these words, “Comfort, yes, comfort my people!” says your God . . . and the shift is immediately evident . . . the tone is that of redemption . . . and restoration . . . and renewal . . . and hope. And, while the immediate audience and context is that of the wayward children of Israel and the certainty of Babylonian captivity and the equal certainty of release and return, there is something in these words that transcends the ages and has deep meaning and application to the child of God today . . . for our comfort and encouragement as well. And this morning it’s the thought of God’s hand that causes my spirit to soar . . .

In Isaiah 40:12 I read that my God has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand and that with that same hand, He can stretch it out and measure, from tip of thumb to tip of little finger, the expanse of heaven. Ok . . . so how big is that hand? Really big?!?! Ya’ think?

Too easy to just skim over that . . . in fact, I did the first time through this morning. But take a second and hover over that thought . . . within the hollow of God’s hand He can cup the seas of the earth . . . within the span of God’s hand He can measure the breadth of the galaxies . . . Behold your God! . . . or, at least try and behold His hand. Isaiah asks, “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” (40:18) The Holy One Himself also asks, “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” (40:25) Answer: No one! Encouraged response: “Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things.” (40:26)

Behold God by lifting up your eyes and seeing Him through seeing His hand. Look out over an ocean and imagine it contained within a hand . . . behold the hand of your God. Look up on a clear starry night and imagine to your farthest left a thumb . . . and to your farthest right the tip of a pinky-finger . . . behold the hand of your God. Do that and then recall this other fact from Isaiah . . .

“For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.'” (Isaiah 41:13)

Now, how amazing is that? . . . that the hand of God which can contain oceans and measure universes will also take hold of your right hand? That His big, big, big hand will grasp your hand to lead you . . . will gently take your hand into His to comfort you . . . will give your hand a squeeze to encourage and strengthen you . . . will take your hand in His to draw you near to Him . . . will hold firm your hand to stand with you against enemies and struggles. What is it to have God take hold or our hand with His?

And, as I think about it, is it not true too that, because of the blood of Jesus, we don’t have to wait for Him to reach out and take our hand. If we have boldness to enter the holy of holies and draw near in full assurance of faith . . . if we’ve been given the Spirit of adoption whereby we address this big, big God as Abba (aka Daddy) Father . . . is it then too much to think that we can take hold of His hand . . . as a little kid reaches up and grab’s their daddies hand . . . for comfort . . . and in confidence . . . and just because they like to.

Oh blessed thought . . . His big hand holding ours . . . our puny hands enveloped in His . . . thank You, Father!