Right now the only thing we get to see of God are his “fingerprints,” those moments when we recognize clearly that God has spoken or even moved on our behalf!
Why would he give us those glimpses?
Clearly, God wants to be tangible to us! He longs for the day when we can see him face to face and interact with him the way he first intended. Thus in the meantime, he loves to give us tangible gifts of his presence!
We celebrate the greatest of these gifts at Christmas-time, when God became tangible to the world as a human being. God chose to appear in the flesh, giving us a hands-on view of who he is.
So what did Jesus show us of God when he was here?
Jesus loved to have the children come close to him, and I bet he pulled them close and hugged them. He actually WANTED to touch the lepers and the unclean people. He wiped away tears. He anointed his followers with oil. He washed people’s dirty feet.
And if afraid, Jesus would have held their hands.
If the Father could be with us right now, he would touch us in countless ways! His love and care would be evidenced through his hands! The scriptures give us glimpses into the ways that God uses his hands to intervene in our lives.
In the Garden of Eden, he took pity on Adam and Eve and made them clothes to cover their shame, like a mother would clothe her children. He yearns to do these kinds of tactile loving gestures for us, even if we can currently only recognize him through his fingerprints. One day we will get to experience him in his loving fullness. But we can rest assured that even now, we are truly cradled in his hands!
God’s hands:
Made us..For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13)
Bless us…You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Ps. 23:5)
Empower us…You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great (Ps. 18:35)
Guide us…even there your hand will guide me. Your right hand will hold me fast (Ps. 139:10)
Care for us… Arise Lord! Lift up your hand, oh God. Do not forget the helpless (Ps. 10:12)
Applaud us…You welcome me with rich blessings and place a crown of pure gold on my head (Ps.21:3)
Reduce our fear…Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Ps.23:4)
Rescue us…He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters (Ps. 18:16)
Comfort us…The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from my face (Is. 25:8)
Uphold us…Though I stumble, I will not fall, for the Lord upholds me with his hand (Ps. 37:24)
Fight for us…Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked (Ps. 3:7)
Carry us…Save your people and bless your inheritance;be our shepherd and carry us forever (Ps. 28:9)
Hold us…You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me (Ps. 139:5
Protect us…Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (Ps. 17:8
Heal us…When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them (Luke 4:40)