In The Palms Of His Hands

May 2022 – Grace & Truth Magazine

In The Palms Of His Hands

Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. — Isaiah 49:15-16 NKJV

Like us sometimes, the L ORD ’s chosen, redeemed people had asserted He had forsaken and forgotten them. The passage above is the Lord’s response. Generally speaking, the most powerful connection known to mankind is that of a mother with her child. Can she “forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?”

Almost surprisingly, the answer given by the Spirit of God is actually, “Maybe!” However, the Lord then reveals that He has not forgotten His children. What does He do to point that out? He shows His hands to those who have turned to Him in faith: “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” We cannot help but think of the nail prints in the hands of the Son of God from when He gave His life in love for us (Gal. 2:20). We belong to Him in a sense greater than even that of a child with its mother, for He formed us and redeemed us at such a great cost. ‟To inscribe” suggests permanency. Those marks will always be in the palms of His hands. Our names are there forever!

Truly, mothers, about whom Scripture says, “they may forget,” show great compassion on their children. How much greater must be the compassion shown by God on His people. He knows our needs, and in mercy and grace He acts for our blessing. In a coming day, for those of the nation of Israel who will through faith turn to the Lord during the tribulation, He will display His compassion by casting all their “sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:19). He has already done this for us who believe today. Our sins are gone forever.

What about you? Do you desire to know the compassion of the Lord? God’s anger toward sin is great, but you, too, can enjoy the compassions of God through turning from your own ideas and ways and turning to Him in faith. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, on what He did for you on the cross in bearing your sins and all their punishment, and you will be saved – forever!

By Paul Alberts