Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me. (Ezra 7:28b)
But when you read this verse, it makes you think: what does the hand of God on your life look like? We know the effects of the hand of God being on you: courage, boldness, drive, and determination– all things that we want for our lives because it gives us a purpose greater than our current state of life. But really, when the Hand of God is on you, what does that look like? The reason I ask this question today is because so many of us have the hand of God on our lives, but we don’t notice it and we therefore we have this favor and blessing from God and do nothing with it and our lives virtually appears like life without the Hand of God touching us.
When Israel (Jacob) wrestled with God and was touched by God, he had courage to move forward with his plan in confronting his older brother, from whom he stole the birthright. When the Apostle Paul was touched by God on the road to Damascus, his life purpose transformed from persecutor to gospel proclaimer. In both instances, when the Hand of God was upon them, quite literally, they experienced and realized their shortcomings and their handicaps. Yet, in their hearts, they knew they had a job to do, they had a purpose their lives were headed for.
You see, when the Hand of the Lord is on you and me, we see everything we cannot do and all the reasons why we shouldn’t, but we also realize that the dream we have within us just can’t be shaken away because God puts it there. God reminds us of it. It is there and then that we know that the Hand of God is on you and me and that we should have courage. To gather the people around us and share that dream and purpose and go set out to accomplish what God put on our heart. I bet despite your shortcomings and all the naysayers, you have a dream God gave you and you just can’t shake it. Now you’re at that place where you need to jump off and move forward– God’s hand is on you. It was on you the moment Jesus took up that cross and said, “it is finished.” It was on you the moment the heavens and earth was moved by God to send His son Jesus as ransom for our lives. We can’t forget that. Our shortcomings mean nothing to God; His hand is on us. Have courage and go with me to accomplish the dreams God gives to you.