With a Mighty Hand and an Outstretched Arm

I’m reading Deuteronomy. As Moses tells Israel’s national history he frequently repeats that their God rescued them from Egypt ‘with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm’. It’s a phrase that other Old Testament writers use – particularly the prophet Jeremiah…

The mighty hand is strong, powerful, has the potential to achieve; the outstretched arm reaches out willingly, decisively, to those in need of help. Both are required for effective action…

Yesterday Katie was talking about her recent cancer surgery. She’s at home recuperating; all seems to have gone well…

The doctor’s mighty hands had the medical experience and expertise to do the operation; surgical outstretched arms reached out removing the cancer, restoring Katie’s body, enabling healing to take place.

Richard’s very clever at making things out of old bits of copper. He’s brought his ideas to Men’s Shed and taught some of the gents to make flowers and other ornamental decorations. Yesterday this was his latest creation…

Richard has the mighty hand of skill, creative ideas, experience with a range of crafts, and the outstretched arm of patient experiment and careful action, to produce his final model.   

Last week Granddaughter-Hannah, who’s just started her teacher training at uni, posted: ‘Yesterday I taught my first whole class lesson, RE the easter story, and afterwards I didn’t want to cry or quit so I say it went pretty well’

Hannah used her mighty hand of preparation and developing teaching skills, together with her outstretched arm of vulnerability and willingness to have a go as she teaches the children in her class.

And me? Today? I learn from Hannah, Richard and Katie’s surgeon. I bring my strong hand – my skills, talents, abilities and experience; I bring my vulnerable outstretched arm into intentional willing action; I learn from, and am inspired by, the God who’s mighty hand and outstretched arm I constantly rely on.