Do NOT draw back your hand

I thought my next blog would be in June when I share on: leaving your father’s house – a Father’s Day special! BUT many plans are in a man’s mind however, it is the LORD’s purpose for him (her or me in this case) that will stand. Truly, it is NOT in me to direct my steps – God does this, and in doing so, He makes my feet beautiful!

When God speaks who can but prophesy(Amos 3:8B). My point is, I really had to share this kiss! I could not restrain myself my hand … like the pen of ready writer, my fingers excitedly went to work. With that said, it is my desire that you enjoy this kiss even as I did and still do … I pray that this Kiss from God’s gracious sweet lips awakens you at your core to His call – you are a people called by God’s Name.

This blog is a spin-off of the Judah and Tamar saga! One of the many lessons to be taken from it is this: do NOT draw back your hand.

It is for this reason that God teaches and tells us these things so that His delight and pleasure may be in us fully, completely, and overflowingly. For our way is not that of those who draw back(Hebrews 10:39A).

Who are those who drew back?

1.Onan– Judah’s second son and Tamar’s second husband. He died because he withdrew his ‘hand‘ thus preventing conception(Genesis 38:6-10). His deliberate intent on preventing fruitfulness/multiplication displeased God and he became a deadline … a dead end.

2. Zerah– Tamar’s second son (Perez’ twin). At the time of their delivery, he put out his hand and could have been born first BUT he drew back his hand(Genesis 38:28-29A).

3. The children of Ephraim(Psalm 78:9-11)– they were armed and carrying bows, yet they turned back their hand in the day of battle. They kept not the Covenant of God and refused to walk according to His Command (Grace). They refused to walk according to God’s Word (The Staff) … they forgot God’s Face, a forgetfulness that happens when one does not keep The Signet and The Staff … a forgetfulness that could lead to being forgotten (like Tamar would have been) – a dead end.

Flipping it from 6 to 9(to better things … to princely things), let’s look at examples of people who did NOT draw back their hand. First, the little boy with five loaves of bread and two fish –John 6:9– this was all he had in his hand. I’m not sure how the disciples knew about this little lad’s lunch. My guess is that he offered … he probably was like: hey, here’s my lunch. However these princely things may have transpired, I reckon that this little boy (who I’m very much inclined to call Gideon or Perez) willingly … fully … and outstretchingly gave what he had in his hand. He certainly did not withdraw his hand – he was a cheerful giver. We all know from2 Corinthians 9:7 that God loves Him some cheerful giver and giving! Through this little lad’s outstretched hand, God demonstrated His nothing-like-it-ness … God demonstrated His Holiness (John 6:1-13).

Before we look at Moses, let’s take a look at Ehud – another person who did NOT draw back his hand in spite of being restricted. The story goes thus: after 40 years of peace, and following the death of Othniel (a man used by God in response to the Israelites cry to God for deliverance from their self-made oppression), the Israelites did evil in the sight of God …. AGAIN! As a result, evil befell them … eighteen (2×9) years later, the Israelites cried to God again for salvation/deliverance. In response God used Ehud, a left-handed man (a man restricted in his right hand as we all are) to do the job. It didn’t matter that he was restricted in his right hand (which is popularly mistaken to be a person’s strong hand) … Ehud gave his (left) hand regardless, and God used him to run a secret (ninja, samurai-like) errand! When you have a moment, check out the details of the story inJudges 3:1-30– you’ll understand why I said it was ninja and samurai-like 🙂. Not only did he not withdraw his hand, Ehud did not withdraw the sword in his hand! He took what was in his hand and went all in! A God-glorifying commitment to the task he was given/assigned/appointed!

Exodus 3captures God’s early conversations with Moses. God called Moses to Himself using the burning bush with fire that was not consumed – a semblance of the Word and Spirit of God –Jeremiah 23:29A…Hebrews 12:29. In this conversation, God tells Moses Who He is and what’s on His mind (salvation). Furthermore, God lets Moses in on his part in His Plan and gave Moses His Name – what a preciousness! Moses was called by God’s Name.

InExodus 4:2and in response to Moses’ reservation to all God revealed to him, God asks: what is that in your hand? Moses responds saying: a staff!

With the staff in Moses’ hand, God gave him two and a third sign to ease his reservations. Twice during this show and tell, Moses had to stretch out his hand. Thereafter came the part where Moses almost withdrew his hand (Exodus 4:10,13) BUT the mercy of God stepped in and stayed his hand (Exodus 4:11,12…14-17). I believe this is a significant part of the story because, like Moses, many of us tend to look at ourselves (and others) when God tells us to “do” something … when God tells us to move in and by His Spirit. Sometimes (more often than not), when God calls us forth, we tend to very quickly see all the ways in which we can’t, are weak, or will fail – indeed, we can’t, we are weak, and we will flat-out fail in and of ourselves – all these are facts! BUT we are NOT the criteria! Thankfully so.

I use the example of Moses to highlight that the response of fear is common to us all, including the best of us. Jeremiah also expressed his version of this fear response inJeremiah 1:6-to-9. In Moses’ case, he said and I quote: “O Lord, I am not eloquent nor am I a man of words, I never have … not even since You’ve spoken to me in this conversation, I am slow of speech. I have a heavy and awkward tongue … Oh, my Lord, I pray You, send by the hand of some other whom You will send.”.

Without mincing words, that right there👆was Moses in the process of withdrawing his hand. Thank God for God (His Mercy) … Moses could have been a dead end BUT the Mercy of God would not have it so. The same Mercy has been extended to us …

For all of us, our experience of God’s Mercy starts with an invitation or calling from God to come into Him, to give Him our hand (including our right hand of weakness). Holding our hand in His, as we walk with him (hand-in-hand), God shows us His out-of-this-world, nothing-like-it-ness Plan (Promise). The PURPOSE of which has already been fulfilled in faithfulness – Isaiah 25:1 …

Like Abraham entered into what God was doing for him and through him (Romans 4:3 MSG), GRACE is how we enter into and remain anchored in God’s Purpose, Plan, and Promise for/to us. PURPOSE and GRACE – a match made in heaven and realized (reali-ti-zed) here on earth. God’s purpose on the earth will not want or lack her mate (GRACE) in fulfillment –Isaiah 34:16.

When God reveals your part in His Plan to you, do NOT look at yourself … do NOT respond based on you. Instead, look unswervingly and undistractedly at His Face and respond based on what you see on His Face. Keep your eyes of Faith fixed on His Face, fixating on the delight on His Face for what’s to come … for what comes next. On His Face, you’ll find no deadlines, no dead ends, instead a Lifeline, a no-way WAY! God will ALWAYS make a way! Yes … even in the wilderness!

Always remember God’s Right Hand.

If ever you feel fear, do NOT draw back your hand. Instead, remember that God’s Right Hand is holding your right hand. Speak His Word in response to His Word (what He tells you) – speak to The ROCK – and watch Him demonstrate His Holiness! Like Elisha threw the stick into the water and a like-never-before happened(2 Kings 6:1-7), speak God’s Word (speak with holy fervor born of Faith) in(to) the seemingly impossible task at hand, and watch God demonstrate His nothing-like-it-ness! Watch heavenly realities that have their foundation in the holy being of God happen here on earth! God’s Glory revealed!

These are the verysame wordsthat God spoke to Joshua at the start of his assignment and God’s conversation with him(Joshua 1:9) … dear reader, do NOT draw back your hand like Zerah did. Instead be like Perez and break forth as the LORD calls you forth and commands your strength! Strength! Courage! Grace! Grace! Grace to it!