Engraved in the Palm of the Lord's Hand

Isaiah 49: 16

The Lord answers, “Can a woman forget the baby she nurses? 
Can she feel no kindness for the child to which she gave birth?
 Even if she could forget her children, I will not forget you. 
See, I have written your name on my hand. 
Jerusalem, I always think about your walls.

(Isaiah 49: 15, 16)

So many times I find myself lost in the multiple explanations of who we are on this earth and what we are doing in this world. I could guess, the same line of thoughts would have crossed you too whenever you went in search of your identity. The question of what am I doing right now, and for what purpose, keeps me going in search of answers that I could find in the Bible. And, at the end of such a search, one of the answers I am able to identify is this. "I am not forgotten by my Lord! He has written my name on his hand."

Our Bio-data, Mind-data, Soul-data, Existence-data, Eternity-data, starting with our names, is very clearly "written" (NCV) / "engraved" (NIV) / "inscribed" (NASB) /  "graven" (King James Bible) in the Lord's hand. I have shared with you above some of the words that have been used over the centuries in the different versions of the Bible, trying to describe this wonder in awe. This is something beyond human capacity to understand that we are remembered always, for our names are remembered by our Creator. Our Lord our God remembers each and every one of us, name by name. Our lives, our existence on this planet and our eternity beyond this earthly life are so important for our Lord that He has "engraved" each of us on the palm of His hands. 

Even though for a just human glimpse of thought this may sound metaphorical, our past experiences and our present life circumstances would clearly show that we are remembered by our Lord our God. Think of the times when you had forgotten what you had prayed for months before, but God answered without fail. Recollect the dreams that you had shared in your prayers years before, and the Lord has remembered to make them a reality for you. Look at the shame and struggle in the footprints you had left behind and the ways in which you had committed so many sins, and our God made sure that those sins are forgiven and your wounds are healed. And let these millions of little reminders make us understand the bigger truth that the Lord our God has not forgotten us. The Lord remembers each and every one of us, for He has written our names on the palm of His hands. 

Today, as we meditate on these words of assurance, I want to encourage you to feel safe in the hands of our Lord. Whatever may be your physical and financial conditions, remember that our God remembers them. Wherever you may feel lost, unidentified, not recognised, remember you are known by the Lord. Whenever you feel you are forgotten, diminished, broken and thrown away, remember that the One who knows your eternal existence has engraved you in the palm of His hands. He will remember to provide for you. He will remember to meet your needs. He will be on time to help you. He will hold you when you fall and help you stand again. He will rush to you in your time of pain. He will stand by your side when everything around you may collapse and fade away. He is our God of eternal love. And that is why out of His love and assurance for us, the Lord says in Isaiah 49: 15, “Can a woman forget the baby she nurses? Can she feel no kindness for the child to which she gave birth? Even if she could forget her children, I will not forget you." Amen. Let these words be a fruitful assurance in each and every one of our lives. Let us remember, that our walls (the most essential and outer part of a city that safeguards, defines the border, and what others get to see about this city from outside) are in our God's thoughts, always. Calling us "Jerusalem", His chosen city, God has promised in Isaiah 49: 16, "Jerusalem, I always think about your walls." Amen.

I pray that each of our hearts will look to God in prayer today and thank Him for remembering us in such a wonderful and magnificent way. May the blessing and assurance of God our Father, the grace and love of Christ Jesus and the fellowship and presence of the Holy Spirit be with us and help us to trust our Lord our God more and more, and to live our lives trusting in Him.

May God bless you.

Yours in Christ,

"He knows my name..." by Maranatha Singers