Does God Have the Whole World in His Hands?

Does God have the whole world in His hands?

With political unrest, lack of peace, the current state of our world, and persecution of Christians, the mental image of God holding the world brings me comfort. A security astounding an often weary soul.

And it’s during the Christmas season, we search for peace and security maybe as never before.

But I’ve often wondered something about the first Christmas. The birth of Jesus. What was it like for Mary and Joseph to hold Him?

The Holy Scriptures tell us they laid Christ in a manger. Yet, we can be sure they held the Christ child. Loving parents in awe of a baby.

Surely, relatives later took their turn. Those family members, “I can’t wait to get my hands on Him.” So, who doesn’t want to hold a baby and the new addition to one’s family tree? Aunts and uncles. All the common kinfolk. To lay their eyes on Him. To behold Him. And to hold Jesus.

They actually held God incarnate in their hands.

Me, you, the whole world

Jesus’ relatives held Him, but does God hold us in His hands?

I’m reminded of a song I heard as a child. An old American Spiritual. Recorded by various artists and highlighted in movies from drama to comedy.

Lyrics telling us that He (God) has babies, me and you, the whole world in His hands. So let’s check it out.

In Scripture, references to God’s hands occur in both the singular and plural noun; My hand. My right hand. Your hand. His hands. Past, present, and future tense verbs describe the tasks His hands have already accomplished, perform currently, and functions that will occur. And this list is not exhaustive.

10 biblical principles about God’s hands 

1. God’s hand creates. “It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth, my right hand that spread out the heavens  above” (Isaiah 48:13 NLT).  “. . . O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand” (Isaiah 64:8 NLT).
2. God’s hand is powerful and mighty. “Power and might are in your hand . . . .” (1 Chronicles 29:12 NLT).
3. God’s hand is strong. “Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength” (Psalm 89:13 NLT).
4. God’s hand protects. “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him . . . .” (Ezra 8:22 NLT).
5. God’s hand supports and holds us up. “Your right hand holds me up” (Psalm 18:35 NLV).  New Living Translation, “Your right hand supports me . . . .”
6. God’s hand saves and is raised against evil. “You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me” (Psalm 138:7 NIV).
7. Life is in God’s hand. “In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all men” (Job 12:10 NLV).
8. Time and future are in God’s hands. “My times are in your hand. . . .” (Psalm 31:15 NLV). New Living Translation, “My future is in your hands.”
9. Good things and satisfying desires come from God’s hand. “You open Your hand and they are filled with good things” (Psalm  104:28 NLV).  “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16 NIV).
10. The depths of the earth are in God’s hands. “He holds in his hands the depths of the earth . . . .” (Psalm 95:4 NLT).

God’s got us 

Voilà. God has all things—the world—in His hands.

We can trust that God has everything in His hands. #God #blog Share on X

Therein lies the answer to these questions:

God’s got me in His hands?

He’s got you in His hands?

God’s got the whole world in His hands?

Yes, yes, and yes.

As we celebrate Christmas, let’s lay our eyes on Him. Behold Him. Christ the Lord. He’s holding us. Hold onto Him.

Enjoy this video of the African Children’s Choir performing live, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.

 

© 2016 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved

*Photos by Adobe Spark.

*This article was revised from a post last year.