SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? [Isaiah 40:11-12]
I love how these words present the paradox of God as both loving and almighty.
Picture the shepherd’s hands gently holding his sheep, then picture those same hands measuring the waters and marking off the heavens with his hands, holding the dust and weighing the mountains.
This prophecy of Isaiah is meant as a comforting rebuke – the people of Israel are looking to statues of gods to rescue them, and God is calling them to look to Him for strength and help, He is coming for them!
The God that created the Universe is the God that holds us close, and enables us to soar like eagles!

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. [John 10:27-30]
Jesus is the incarnation of this prophecy, God coming as a shepherd to draw His people back to Gofd, to renew their strength and enable them to soar like eagles.
No one can snatch them from Jesus hand, no one can snatch them from the Father’s hand – for they are one!
Through His victory on the cross and over the grave, Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth [Matthew 28:18-20], therefore we can say with Isaiah about Jesus…
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. [Isaiah 40:22]

But most wonderful of all, as we rely on Jesus, He helps us with what we need to soar:
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. [Isaiah 40:29-31]
Relating with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, living with and for Him, trusting in His hand in charge of all situations and circumstances (including the hard ones), we can soar!
Yes, the battle still rages, and we still find ourselves tested and tempted.
But through it all, we listen to the voice of hope that declares good news in the wilderness; we look to the loving, powerful hand of God – as seen in Jesus, as experienced by the Spirit – and we know…
Nothing, and no one, can snatch us from His hands!

PRAYER:
Lord, into Your hands I entrust my life. Renew my spirit today with Your Spirit, that I may soar with You!