He's got the whole world in His hands - The Lord Jesus

 

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He's got the whole world in His hands.

Remember the song?  ‘He's Got the Whole World in His Hands’ is a traditional African American spiritual, first published in 1927. It became an international pop hit in 1957-1958 in a recording by English singer Laurie London and has been recorded by many other singers and choirs.

 

It's a celebration of God's loving embrace of everyone in this big old world and a good tune as well! I think it's a bit of an exaggeration, though. God doesn't need both hands to hold the world; in fact, the Bible states He is the One who has measured the waters ‘in the hollow of his hand,’ Isa. 40:12, and that 'In his hand are the deep places of the earth,' Ps. 95:4.

Also, the lives and destinies of every man, woman and child that has ever lived are held in that mighty clasp. He's the God in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind,' Job 12:10. Daniel, an Old Testament Prophet, when talking to the most important man on the planet, spoke of 'the God in whose hand your breath is'.

But God has done more than create and maintain the universe we live in and all the people in it. He saw us, lost, hopeless and heading for judgement. He loved us and gave His Son to die on our behalf. Then He raised Him from the dead, demonstrating that death's grip had been broken. It took the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross to achieve this. Significantly, both of the Saviour’s hands are used as proof of His death and resurrection when one of His disciple’s, Thomas, is looking for evidence that He is alive from the dead.

So sure, ‘He's got the itty-bitty baby in his hand’, and ‘He's got the whole wide world in His hand’. But in both of His hands are the indelible marks of the suffering He went through to deliver us from death and Hell itself.

We come under God's protection by accepting that we are sinners, that Jesus ‘Christ died for our sins’ and that He rose from the dead to prove that death had been conquered. He says about those who believe on Him and who have trusted in Him to be their Good Shepherd ‘I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand,' John 10:28. A terrified man once cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me'.  And immediately, Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him. The same strong, wounded hands stretch out to you today. Will you trust Him to be your Saviour?