How many of you are right-handed? You are among the group of 85 to 90% who are. Have you ever wondered why? Scientist has pondered this question for centuries. Most agree that it was evolutional in nature. They believe that as man developed the right side of the brain began to develop the language skills while the left side, which controls the right side of the body, developed the motor skills. Some have suggested that it is decided in the womb by what side of the brain receives the most oxygen.
I tend to take a different approach. I tend to take the creational approach. I believe that, as the Word says, we were created in the image of God and that God is right handed. So today, I want us to discover what it means to be in the care of a right-handed God.
As part of my preparation for this sermon, I began to observe people with their children in the malls. I noticed that most parents held their child’s right hand with their left. I am sure that they were probably not aware of this tendency. But perhaps their was a grain of protection to this decision. Very unaware, perhaps they felt better able to protect their child with their dominate hand. Also making the child feel more secure by having their dominate hand in control of a greater power. And in this observation, I have a Christmas message for you.
Let’s read Isaiah 41:13.
“For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”
God paints a picture here. We see a heavenly Father holding his child by their right hand. His left hand enfolds ours while his right hand is free to protect us. He doesn’t ask us to reach out our right hand to him. Rather He reaches down to clasp our right hand. He did this when He sent his Son to be born in a manger as a human. Jesus was God reaching down to grab our right hand.
Man’s reaction to such a compassionate move was to be afraid. When the angel appeared to Mary, his first words were “Don’t be afraid.” When the angel appeared to the shepherds, their first words were “Don’t be afraid.” When Jesus performed the miracle of catching the fish, He told Simon Peter, “Don’t be afraid.”
When there was death around him, He declared, “Don’t be afraid.” When others saw his resurrected body, He declared, “Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus came to this earth so that we would not fear God. Jesus came to this earth so that we would allow him to take our right hand and realize that He is here to help us. So what kind of help does God offer by holding our right hand.
He offers us victory.
Psalm 44:3 “They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.
It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.”
The psalmist wrote this as a reminder that it was not the power of Joshua and his men that conquered the Promised Land. It was the right hand of God. It was his mighty arm. It was his blinding righteousness. It was his love for his people. Even though they were in partnership with God by using their weapons, it was through God’s power that the victory was won. They offered God their right hand and allowed him to win the victory.
We must offer God our right hand. It is symbolic of submission. We cannot fight against the enemy with our own might. Jesus was given to us as a symbol of God’s love for his people. Because of his sacrifice, we were given victory in the land. And along with victory come our next point.
He offers us power.
Exodus 15:6 “Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power.
Your right hand, O Lord, smashes the enemy.
We have power, not in our might, but in his right hand. If we are holding on to God’s left hand with our right hand, we are defenseless. But that’s where we need to be. God is able to smash the enemy before he has the chance to try to abduct us.
The Bible says that God’s right hand will seize all who hate you. It says that God can simply raise his right hand and the earth will swallow our enemies. If our enemies seem to be winning perhaps we have let go of God and tried to fight our battles on our own. If so, then it’s time to grab his hand, surrender your might, and let him crush our enemies.
Sometimes just holding his left hand is not enough. Like the child in the mall, sometimes we need to be held in his right hand. Doing so offers us extra peace.
He offers us security.
Psalm 63:8 “I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.”
Why do you suppose the parents are holding tightly to the hands of their little ones in the mall? It is obviously for their protection. According to the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children there are 115 “stranger abductions” of children every year.
These children in the malls can make it obvious that they do not like being restrained. They tug at the parents hands trying to get loose. They have tantrums because they feel trapped. And why such resistance?
Look at what the mall has to offer. With all the toy stores and decorations, any child would go bonkers to be allowed to roam free. But loving parents refuse to give in to such demands for the security of their child. In fact, they will often pick them up and carry them in their arms.
The world is like that mall. It offers us such temptations that we at times strain to separate ourselves from God’s loving care. We try to loosen his grip on our lives, not realizing the danger that awaits us if we do. Because there is an abductor who stalks us. His desire is to separate us from that strong right hand. It is in the moments of our weaknesses that we must cling to God as He tightly holds us to him.
He offers us support
Psalm 18:35 “You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.”
Let me share a story from the book of Exodus to help explain support.
While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”
So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. (Exodus 17:8-13)
Notice that when the battle began Moses was standing on his own holding the staff. Eventually he began to tire and he needed support to get him through the battle. Aaron and Hur were there for him.
We have the assurance of God that when we tire in the battle that his right hand will support us. He will hold us up in the midst of crisis. He will make us great in the eyes of those around us. We will be successful.
There is one other thing that is available on his right hand.
He offers us honor.
Hebrews 10:12 “But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
Being in God’s right hand is not just a place of victory, power, security, and support. It is a place of honor. It is the placed reserved for the most honored of guests. It is a place chosen by the host. God chose Jesus to sit in this place of honor. And Ephesians 2:6 says, “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”
We have been seated in the place of honor at the right hand of God.
And so we enter this season of Christmas. And we know how wonderful it is to be at the right hand of God. But we deal with many very real issues this time of year. One issue is greed. The psalmist addresses this in
Psalm 73:3-7
For I envied the proud
when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
They seem to live such painless lives;
their bodies are so healthy and strong.
They don’t have troubles like other people;
they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
and clothe themselves with cruelty.
These fat cats have everything
their hearts could ever wish for!
Another issue is arrogance.
Vs. 8-9
They scoff and speak only evil;
in their pride they seek to crush others.
They boast against the very heavens,
and their words strut throughout the earth.
This lead to complaints against God.
Vs. 10-12
And so the people are dismayed and confused,
drinking in all their words.
“What does God know?” they ask.
“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
Look at these wicked people—
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
This leads to comparisons
Vs 13-15
Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain.
If I had really spoken this way to others,
I would have been a traitor to your people.
This leads to confusion
vs. 16
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
But what a difficult task it is!
Then finally gratification.
Vs. 17-20
Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
In an instant, they are destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors.
When you arise, O Lord,
you will laugh at their silly ideas
as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
Has that been you lately? Envious of how well the unrighteous fare. Has that led to complaints, comparisons, and gratification that one day those ner’do wells will pay the price? Let’s continue with the Psalm.
Vs.21-22
Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
This gives us the best Christmas message of all.
Vs 23. Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
No matter how much we complain or how judgmental we might become He holds our right hand. We might squirm and try to run but He holds on. Sometimes He might even have to take us off our feet in order to carry us in his right hand. But He will hold on like the loving Father He is.
