The Long-Armed God

Yesterday was Gilly’s funeral. His name was ‘Gilbert’, but he was always known as Gilly. Gilly, a cheerful, humble, unassuming Christian gentle man, was particularly kind to our family.

Alec, paying tribute to Gilly, summed him up: ‘I knew how to hang a door, Gilly knew how to put paint on a wall; we got on well together.’ Gilly was a good, valued friend and team player.

After a good service that honoured Gilly there was tea and cake. I enjoyed conversations with friends, catching up with good people. We reflected on faith and hope. It was good. I felt good.

And yet… I finished the day unhappy, grumpy, a bit out of sorts. One or two things were said and done that caused discomfort. Perhaps I was tired, almost certainly I wasn’t gracious enough. My ‘good’ changed into ‘not so good’.

Reading my Bible this morning… After leaving Egypt the Israelites set of for the Promised Land. The people complain to Moses: we want the ‘good old days in Egypt’. Moses complains to God: leading this nation is impossible. A journey that started with faith, hope and good, changed into not so good.

God answers, ‘Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.’ Do you think I’m a short-armed God? No! I’m a long-armed God that can reach you wherever you are.

My ‘Message’ Bible says, ‘So, do you think I can’t take care of you? You’ll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not.’

Moses’ answer, my answer, is that this long-armed God can reach and take care of us wherever we are, however we feel.

At Gilly’s funeral we heard:
‘You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.’

God raises us with long-arms to mountain-standing, stormy-sea-walking, and shoulder-riding-strength.