The Hand of God

A significant word or phrase overused can become insignificant. If everything is “awesome” then nothing really is and the word has lost its way – its meaning and its power. The word can now be applied to a butterfly when originally it meant drop you to your knees with fearful awe. In the same way, it is appropriate to see God working all around us. But there is this phrase that was intended to be applied to the outstanding works of God; the cannot be explained away as natural phenomena works of God. When the Israelites used the phrase “The Hand of God” they meant the outstanding, above the normal, powerful workings of Yahweh. If they had stumbled upon a clearing blanketed by wildflowers they may have marveled at God’s creation, but they would not have said, “Look The Hand of God!” Wildflowers are wonderful and delightful. But if we call this The Hand of God, then every naturally growing flower along with the grass and trees and well, you know, everything, would be. The phrase would then be robbed of its significance.

The birth of John (Luke 1:57-66) was not just another birth of many everyday births. First of all, Elizabeth and Zacharias were beyond the age of having children when Elizabeth became pregnant. So old in fact that when the angel Gabriel announced the good news to Zacharias, Zacharias suffered fits of doubt and was struck with the sudden inability to speak. Okay, so now the time had arrived for little John to come screaming into the world. And her neighbors and family came over to rejoice with her acknowledging that God had displayed his great mercy. Now this phrase could be applied to any birth. Every child was a gift and a child born alive was God’s mercy. However, this group of gathering rejoicers were fully aware of Elizabeth’s age and therefore God’s mercy may have added significance here.

The crowd gathered again on circumcision day. The boy was circumcised on the eighth day in compliance to the law (cf. Genesis 17:11-12; Leviticus 12:3). In later Judaism it became popular practice to name the boys on circumcision day. For them the boys did not have a name until the law was observed. The circumcision was seen as a commitment to observe the law; to become a true Israelite. However, there is no evidence of this being the practice as early as John’s birth. This practice was also observed with Jesus. Maybe it was a family tradition. The truth is, we don’t have complete records, and a family tradition could easily go unrecorded. Until Luke’s research. Anyway, the important thing here is that the law was observed and the naming of this baby was significant. Zacharias could not talk, so the crowd took it upon themselves to name the child after the father. This was a well established custom. Elizabeth, however, would have none of that. She said, “His name shall be called John (God has shown favor).” The crowd seems indignant. This is not a family name. Well Elizabeth may be a little daffy after all that labor eight days ago. So, they do a little signing to Zacharias and he asked for a writing tablet. This was most likely a wood tablet covered in wax upon which you could write. Interestingly enough, this tablet was commonly used by doctors. Anyway, back to the important thing. Zacharias confirms that the name is John and the crowd was surprised. There is nothing miraculous in Elizabeth and Zacharias coming up with the same name. Zacharias had several months to write down the name for Elizabeth. The crowd was probably surprised because they were confident that some family name would have been chosen for the child.

Immediately, Zacharias is given back the ability to speak. The word “immediately” is always applied to miracles in the Gospel of Luke. Nobody gathered at this circumcision party would have thought, “What a coincidence.” They saw The Hand of God here. So did Zacharias and he breaks out in praise. Fear gripped them. This is the normal response to the supernatural. You cannot explain it away. You either see God or you live in denial. Word spread and people knew that something significant would happen in the life of John. They didn’t know what, but they knew it would be The Hand of God.

God is awesome. We can see his handiwork all around us. All of creation sings of his glory. Ah, but there are moments when God’s work is more than what can be naturally explained. It is The Hand of God moments; the miraculous. Every birth is a gift, but not every birth is The Hand of God. And our response to The Hand of God is the same as the people at John’s circumcision party: We don’t know what this means or what will happen here, but this is the power of God and it will be awesome! Be awed! Peace, Walter