RESTORED HANDS
Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.(Matthew 12:12–13)This is the account of a man who came to the synagogue on the Sabbath Day with a withered hand. He needed a miracle and Jesus was ready to help him; but there was strong resistance from the Pharisees, who were advocates of strict adherence to the sabbath. Jesus asked the man to ‘stretch out his hand’; and he was instantly healed to the total dismay of the Pharisees.
Luke’s account notes that the withered hand was the man’s right hand. To the Jews, the right hand represented power and favour. The right hand was used figuratively to signify strength and expression.
The man’s situation was not life-threatening, but it was life-limiting. It was not likely to kill him, but it would significantly limit his options in life.
A withered hand represents the things that do not threaten our lives but which render us totally ineffective. A withered right hand could be:
• A sense of inferiority that keeps you timid; you may have failed at something several times and concluded that you don’t have what it takes.
• A painful memory from the past that freezes your vision of the future; sometimes a sense of regret about missed opportunities can cripple you and hold you captive to your painful past.
• Negative words implanted in your mind that crush your self-esteem; the verdicts and opinions of others may threaten to confine you to a place of limitation.
Christ is able to restore your withered hands, regardless of what form they might take. Yours may probably be your work, or something you owned which has been forcibly taken away from you. Sometimes, a potentially productive venture in our hands ceases to be fruitful and we are left wondering what to do. You may also be under pressure because time may not be on your side. Whatever it is, allow Jesus to bring restoration into your life.
Today, may the Lord restore your withered hands and give back to you anything the enemy has stolen from you.
Believe and declare that the works of your hands that have been lost are being restored.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, restore to me time, opportunities and work that I have I lost. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:1-14
