This is a study is about the hand of the Lord and how His hand can be seen as a hand of blessing or a hand ready to destroy.  In this study we will discover His hand to be for or against us depending on whether or not we are on the Lord’s side or against Him.  I think it can be said of most devote Christians that we long to see His face.  We want to experience God pawneh, pawneh i.e. face to face.  I believe it could be said that our deepest need spiritually is to seek the face of God. However, it can likewise be said that our greatest need in the natural is the blessing of His hand. I hope that this study will uncover for all of us the need to seek His hand.  Occasionally, I will be inserting my own thoughts and commentary as we explore the scriptures on “the hand of the Lord.”  However for the most part I am allowing the scriptures to speak for themselves.

Table of Contents

Forward

The Hand of the Lord

Closing Statement

THE HAND OF THE LORD

This first time the hand of the Lord is mentioned in scripture is in Exodus.

Exodus 3:20  And 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.

The Hebrew word for hand in this scripture is יד yawd or yood, it is the primitive word for an open hand, indicating power, means, or direction, work, deed, or to make.  This use of the word hand is distinguished from the other use which is the Hebrew word פף kaf, and this word for hand means palm of the hand or the sole of a foot, paw of an animal, or the branch of a Palm tree.

Since Yood is used in this case, we find that the Lord is saying that he was going to stretch out His hand of power to smite Egypt with His wonders. If we take a look at the Hebrew for the word wonders, it gives us even more insight. It is the word פלא pala, which means, to separate, make a distinction, work miracles, and doing wonders.  So the first mention of the Lord’s hand, tells us this:

The hand of the Lord Works pala, He stretches out His powerful hand to separate, to make a distinction, to work great and mighty miracles and wondrous things.

When interpreting the scriptures there is a method known as the "law of first-mention."  It is the principle in the interpretation of Scripture which states that the first mention or occurrence of a subject in Scripture establishes an unchangeable pattern, with that subject remaining unchanged in the mind of God throughout Scripture.  Therefore, every time we find a scripture about the Lord’s out stretched hand to do wonders, we now understand it will mean to separate, to make a distinction, and to work miracles.

Throughout scripture we will see the phrase “the Lord’s out stretched hand.”  Often it is outstretched to destroy His enemies as He blesses His people simultaneously, as He did in the Exodus from Egypt. Here are more scriptures about the out stretched hand of the Lord.

Ezekiel 25:13  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; (area of the Edomites) and they of Dedan (Cushites territory)shall fall by the sword.

Ezekiel 25:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims (executioner or guardsman), and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.

Ezekiel 35:3  And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.

The second mention of the hand of the Lord in scripture speaks of the hand of the Lord separating and making a distinction, exactly as was discovered in the meaning of the word wonders or pala in “first mention.”

The hand of the Lord brings judgment.

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Exodus 7:4  But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

In Isaiah we see the term, “His hand is outstretched still” which is referring to a very angered God.  The following scriptures bring to mind what the writer of Hebrews had in mind when he wrote: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Isaiah 9:12  The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 9:17  Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 9:21  Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 10:4  Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Jeremiah 6:12  And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 15:6  Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

Jeremiah 21:5  And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

Jeremiah 51:25  Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

As we move along we are going to see how this “law of first mention” comes into play throughout the text.

The hand of the Lord works mighty miracles to bring the revelation of who He is.

Exodus 7:5  And 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.

The hand of the Lord simultaneously destroys and protects making a distinction between those that are His and those that are not.

Exodus 9:3-4  Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.   And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.

Isaiah 66:14  And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

Psalms 138:7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

The hand of the Lord is able to bring freedom from bondage.

Exodus 13:3  And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye

came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand

the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be

eaten.

The following scripture describes the hand of the Lord as being strong.  The Hebrew word for strong is the word חזק chazaq, which has a negative connotation, meaning hard, bold, and strong, mighty and violent.

The hand of the Lord is strong, and violent.

Exodus 13:9  And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a

memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth:

for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

Psalms 136:11-12 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Jeremiah 32:21  And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror

The hand of the Lord is mighty.

This is the same Hebrew word translated as strong above, חזק chazaq, meaning hard, bold strong, violent.

Exodus 32:11  And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD,

why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought

forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

Deuteronomy 3:24  O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness,

and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?

Deuteronomy 5:15  And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt,

and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand

and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee

to keep the sabbath day.

Deuteronomy 6:21  Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:

Deuteronomy 7:8  But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 7:19  The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.

Deuteronomy 9:26  I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

Deuteronomy 11:2  And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm…

Deuteronomy 26:8  And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:

Deuteronomy 34:12  And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

Joshua 4:24  That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

Next, the hand of the Lord is described as having strength.  The Hebrew word for strength is similar to strong and is spelled the same with different vowel sounds. It is חזק chozaq, meaning power.

The hand of the Lord is full of power.

Exodus 13:14  And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

Thy right hand most often refers to the strongest hand.  Jesus is also referred to as the Father’s right hand.  Keep this in mind as we look at the scriptures about His “right hand.”

The right hand of the Lord destroys His enemies.

Exodus 15:6  Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right

hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

The right hand of the Lord is able to open up the earth to make a grave for His enemies.

Exodus 15:12  Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

Psalms 118:15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

What a glorious day it will be when all these are restored by His valiant hand.

The right hand of the Lord is exalted.

Psalms 118:16  The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Acts 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

The right hand of the Lord shoots off rays of fire.

According to the King James Bible, this next scripture says from His right hand went a fiery law.

Deuteronomy 33:2  And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir (another mountain) unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, (place in the Arabia desert) and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

This word that is translated fiery law is the Hebrew word אשדת eshdath.  This is a word that many scholars have problems with.  It is composed of two words.  The first is אש esh, meaning fire and the second is דת dath which is problematic because it is thought to be foreign, with the meaning of a royal edict.  Personally I do not see the problem.  One could translate from the Hebrew “from His right hand went a royal edict of fire” which would add more color to what took place at Sinai.  I also like how the Pulpit commentary translates fiery law of Deu. 33:2. “from his right hand went rays of fire like arrows shot forth.”

The right hand of the Lord holds His own possessions.

Psalms 139:9-10  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

The Hebrew word for hold is the word אָחַז aw-khaz which means to seize, often with idea of holding in possession.  Is there anything more comforting than to know, like David, that no matter where we are, we are the Lord’s possession and are always held in the palm of His right hand.

The right hand of God is the exalted seat of the risen Lord, Yeshua.

Mark 16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Acts 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Acts 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of  Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Acts 7:55-56  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man

Romans 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Colossians 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Hebrews 10:12  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

1Peter 3:22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

The hand of the Lord has power over the rivers and the seas.

Psalms 89:25  I will set his (Messiah) hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

Isaiah 11:15  And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

The right hand of the Lord holds the seven stars (the seven angels to the seven churches).

Revelation 1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

The hand of the LORD establishes His hand with our Lord.

Psalms 89:21  With whom (speaking of His servant David…the Messiah) my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

The hand of the Lord covers, defends, delivers, and protects his own.

Exodus 33:22  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I

will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while

I pass by:

Psalms 144:7  Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

The word for cover in Hebrew is סכך sakak which means to cover, entwine, defend, protect.

Psalms 119:173  Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

The word for help in Hebrew is עזר aw-zar and it means to have your eye upon, surround and protect.  A Marjorie paraphrase would read like this.  Let thine hand open my eyes to see You surround me and protect me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

The following scripture is the Lord’s response to Moses when he questions the Lord about providing meat for the multitude.  This is what we learn about the Lord’s hand in this scenario:

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The hand of the Lord is never too short to accomplish what the word of the Lord has said. It is the hand of the Lord that will accomplish all of His promises.

Numbers 11:23  And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short?

Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

The hand of the Lord is lifted high.

His hand is exalted so high that He marched the mix multitude out of Egypt as everyone just stood and watched.

The Hebrew word for high is רום pronounced room, and it means raised, rise, hold up, exalt and mount up.

Numbers 33:3  And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the

Fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the

children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.

When our God lifts His high hand there is no power on earth that can stand against it.

Isaiah 49:22  Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

The hand of the Lord is against those that do not believe His word.

The following scripture is about the hand of the Lord being against the generation that was fearful and did not believe that they were able to take the giants in the land when the Lord had said that they could.

Deuteronomy 2:15  For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy

them from among the host, until they were consumed.

We can be sure that the same hand that was against the Hebrews in the wilderness for unbelief will also be against the unbelievers of the end times.

The hand of the Lord is able to gather His people and made a nation out of them from within another nation or nations.

Deuteronomy 4:34  Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst

of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war,

and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors,

according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

Isaiah 11:11  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, (territory in Egypt)and from Cush,(Ethiopia) and from Elam,(Jordon) and from Shinar, (Babylon) and from Hamath, (Syria) and from the islands of the sea.

The hand of the Lord wounds or heals.

Acts 13:11  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

The hand of the Lord kills or makes alive and is impenetrable.

Deuteronomy 32:39  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

Job 19:21  Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

The hand of the Lord is lifted in an oath.

Deuteronomy 32:40  For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live forever.

Isaiah 62:8  The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

The hand of the Lord holds a sword of judgment to take vengeance upon those who hate Him.

Deuteronomy 32:41  If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

The hand of the Lord holds all of His angels and all of His people.

Deuteronomy 33:3  Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

It is my opinion that the word saints in this scripture is not the best translation of the word קדוש qadosh rather as the Pulpit commentator has it, is my preference:  he came from ten thousands of holy ones; literally, out from myriads of holiness…i.e. angels.  So I believe this would be better translated as Holy saints and Holy angels.  He holds all those whom He has created for His pleasure in His hand.

There are two schools of thought as to who the man was in the next scripture, some say it was an angel, and others say it was the son of man, i. e. Jesus.  I believe it was one of many appearances that Jesus made in His pre-incarnate state.

The hand of the Lord draws a sword at will.

Joshua 5:13  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

Think about what this means to us.  Our Lord’s hand is able to draw His sword at any time, either to protect or to destroy.

The hand of the Lord is against His own people when necessary in order to fulfill His Word to them…i.e. obedience brings blessings, disobedience brings curses.

Judges 2:15  Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

The Hebrew word that has been translated as evil is the word רע it is pronounced rah.  Although it can mean evil, it also means, adversity, calamity, and affliction which is certainly more palatable when referring to the hand of the Lord being raised against them for evil.

The hand of the Lord is raised against rebellion.

1Samuel 12:15  But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.

The hand of the Lord holds a staff of consuming fire.

Judges 6:21  Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

Again, it is my belief that the angel of the Lord is Yeshua in His pre-incarnate state.

The hand of the Lord is able to bring fear upon His enemies.

1Samuel 4:8  Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

Although they did not understand that the God of the Hebrews was but one God, they did understand that He had more power than all of their gods combined.

The hand of the Lord makes a distinction between Himself and other gods.

Next we see the hand of God destroy Dagan one of the gods of the Philistines; in addition the hand of the Lord smote them with bleeding piles apparently accompanied by dysentery because of all the deaths.  From Jamison, Fausset and Brown we read,  “As the heathens generally regarded diseases affecting the secret parts of the body as punishments from the gods for trespasses committed against themselves, the Ashdodites would be the more ready to look upon the prevailing epidemic as demonstrating the anger of God, already shown against their idol.”

1Samuel 5:6  But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

1Samuel 5:7  And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

1Samuel 5:9  And it was so, that, after they had carried it (the Ark) about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

The hand of the Lord uncovers idols wherever they may be found.

Isaiah 10:10  As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

The hand of the Lord is more merciful than the hand of man.

2Samuel 24:14  And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

The hand of the Lord strengthens.

1Kings 18:46  And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Ezra 7:28  And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

The hand of the Lord anoints to prophecy.

2Kings 3:15,16  But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.   And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.

Ezekiel 1:3  The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

Ezekiel 8:1  And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

Ezekiel 33:22  Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.

The hand of the Lord brings favor.

Ezra 7:6  This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

The hand of the Lord holds a cup of wrath for the wicked.

Psalms 75:8  For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

The hand of the Lord holds the king’s heart to turn it at will.

Proverbs 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

As the leaders of world governments around the globe conspire against Israel and against the people of God, how comforting it is to know that our God holds the King’s hearts in his hand to do His bidding.

The hand of the Lord shall shake nations with fear and destroy strong holds.

Isaiah 19:16  In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.

Isaiah 23:11  He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

The hand of the Lord will one day rest in the Holy Land for a millennium bringing down the pride of His enemies along with their fortresses.

Isaiah 25:10-12  For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.  And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.   And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.

The hand of the Lord will provide water for the poor and the needy when there is no water to be found.

Isaiah 41:17-20  When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.  I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:  That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Isaiah prophesied these words to those returning from captivity as a promise as to what God was promising those that were humble before Him.  Did He not fulfill His promise?  Israel is a desert in bloom with trees being planted every day.  There is nothing that is impossible for our God to do for us.  Will He not provide “living water” to those who thirst?  This promise from the hand of the Lord is also meant to comfort all those who are His from generation to generation, and especially during these very uncertain times that we live in today that He is able to take care of all of our needs.

The hand of the Lord holds His anger and pours it out against continued disobedience.

Isaiah 51:17  Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

The hand of the Lord changes the destiny of His people.

Isaiah 62:1-5  For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.   Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.   For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

The hand of the Lord simultaneously comforts His own while bringing indignation upon His enemies.

Isaiah 66:14  And when ye see this, (when the Lord does comfort Jerusalem) your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

The hand of the Lord is upon Israel to uphold her.

Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

The hand of the Lord upon His people causes them to be translated from place to place at His will.

Ezekiel 3:14  So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

Ezekiel 37:1  The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,

Eze 40:1  In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.

The hand of the Lord upon us opens spiritual ears to hear His voice.

Ezekiel 3:22  And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

The hand of the Lord upon us can take us to the fifth dimension of time travel and visions.

Ezekiel 8:1-3  And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.   Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.   And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

The hand of the Lord upon us causes us to speak the oracles of God.

Ezekiel 33:22  Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.

Jeremiah 1:9  Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

The hand of the Lord is laid upon His own from the time of conception.

Luke 1:66  And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. (John)

The hand of the Lord initiates faith to believe.

Acts 11:21  And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Acts 13:11  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

The hand of the Lord is gloriously heavy to bless or to destroy.

The Hebrew word for heavy in the following scripture is the word כבד kaw-bad which means to be heavy, in a bad sense burdensome, severe, dull, or in a good sense numerous, rich, honorable, or glorious.

1Samuel 5:11  So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

The hand of God brings unity.

2Chronicles 30:12  Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.

The hand of God uncovers hidden things to teach us about Himself.

Job 27:11  I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

The hand of the Lord will by whatever means is necessary to make His name and Himself known.

Jer emiah 16:21  Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.

Ezekiel 6:14  So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

In the following scripture I want us to pay attention to the word assembly.  My friend Rev. Barbara Di Gilio brought this to my attention and I want to share it with my readers. The Hebrew word that was translated assembly is the word סוד sode and it means so much more than assembly.  From the Strong’s we learn that sode means, a session, that is a company of persons, in close deliberation, by implication intimacy, consultation, secret assembly, inward, counsel.

Ezekiel 13:9  And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

This word sode is key to how the Lord looks upon the assembly of His people.  They are a people that are intimate with their God and there will not be one false prophet among them.

The hand of God brings enjoyment of good things out of one’s ability to work.

Ecclesiastes 2:24  There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

The hand of God holds the righteous and the wise and teaches them to love.

Ecclesiastes 9:1  For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

The hand of God is a covering for the humble.

1Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

The hand of the Lord has laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens obey his command.

Isaiah 48:13  Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

The hand of the Lord is a hiding place.

Isaiah 49:2  And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

The hand of the Lord has caused Jerusalem to drink the cup of His fury.

Isaiah 51:17  Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

The hand of the Lord saves.

Isaiah 59:1  Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

The hand of the Lord holds Israel as a crown of glory and a royal diadem.

Isaiah 62:3  Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

The hand of the Lord is the potter that molds Israel as the clay.

Isaiah 64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Jeremiah 18:6  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

The hand of the Lord separates us from the wicked causing us to sometimes feel alone.

Jeremiah 15:17  I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

The hand of the Lord holds a cup full of the wine of His fury which the nations will be forced to drink.

Jeremiah 25:15  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

Jeremiah 25:17  Then took I the cup at the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:

Jeremiah 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

Babylon is here represented by a golden cup in the Lord’s hand of judgment.  The golden cup represents the seduction of wealth and splendor that attracts the nations to Babylon.  They have become drunk from drinking the wine of her abominations and filth. Therefore the nations no longer know how to reason.

Jeremiah 51:7  Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

The hand of the Lord brings famine to lands that sin against Him.

Ezekiel 14:13  Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

The hand of the Lord brings shame upon the heathen.

Ezekiel 36:7  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame.

The hand of the Lord will set His glory among the heathen.

Ezekiel 39:21  And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.

The hand of the Lord holds a winnowing fan to separate His wheat (his people) from the chaff. (from Satan’s people)

Matthew 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The hand of the Lord separates the sheep nations from the goats nations.

Matthew 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

The hand of the Lord heals.

Matthew 8:3  And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:15  And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Acts 3:7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

The hand of the LORD was with Yeshua even from childhood

Luke 1:66  And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

The hand of the Lord holds His saints securely.

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

The hand of the Lord will again be out stretched at the end of days to remove Satan and all wickedness from the nations.

Isaiah informs us in Chapter 14 of the destruction of Satan and the removal of all wickedness and makes a point of stating that this is the purpose that God has purposed for the whole earth and there is nothing that can turn back His hand.

Isaiah 14:26  This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.

Isaiah14:27  For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

The hand of the Lord will bring a great shaking to Egypt at the end of days.

Isaiah 19:16  In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.

The hand of the Lord is awesome.

I thought I would close with the following scriptures because as we wait for His coming these scriptures speak of His strong hand to rule the nations, His tender touch as He tends to His flock, and the greatness of His hand that holds all the waters of the earth within the hollow of it.  How awesome is the hand of our God?

Isaiah 40:9-13  O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!   Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.  Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?  Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

The hand of the Lord holds a very mysterious end time book in His hand.

Revelation 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

There are those that think this scroll is the title deed to planet earth.  The reason for this is that ancient title deeds were sealed.  Another consideration is that on the Jubilee year all property is to be returned to its original owner and certainly the creator of the earth is its original owner. Although one could also say that He has never lost ownership and the scroll in His hand proves it.  Much of scripture hints at Messiah’s return to this earth could be on a Jubilee year.  Regardless of the date, when He returns the government of the Anti-Christ will be replaced by the Kings of King and Lord of Lords.

There is another possibility that the scroll in His hand is His final will and testament.  This scroll could hold the inheritance of the saints and God the Father’s final will for the affairs of mankind during His millennium reign and perhaps eternity.  What makes this a strong possibility is the fact that Roman law required a “will” to be sealed by 7 seals.  Each of the seals represented a witness who would validate the authenticity of the will.

Continuing with Revelation we read:

Revelation 5:2-5  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to

open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

This thought has occurred to me.  An executor of a will is usually the first born son.  Could it be that as God’s first born son Yeshua as “executor of the will” is the only one with the authority to break the seals?

The hand of the Lord holds a sharp sickle to reap the end time harvest.

Revelation 14:14-15  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

We began this study by saying the hand of the Lord works pala, He stretches out His powerful hand to separate, to make a distinction, to work great and mighty miracles and wondrous things.  So shall it be at the end of the age He will be making a distinction between the Sons of God and the Sons of Satan.  What a comforting thing to know that absolutely nothing can snatch you out of the hand of God.  You are His for all eternity.

May the hand of the Lord, rest upon each and every one of you, for favor and blessing as we wait for Him to call His Bride to meet Him in the air.