Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 33

 

The Everlasting Arms

The first phrase of today's verse mentions the "eternal" God.  The next part talks about His "everlasting" arms.  These two words are nearly synonymous, but have a subtle difference in meaning.

“Eternal” means without beginning and without ending and refers to something that...

always was and always will be.  God is eternal.  In reality, God is unlike anything or anyone we could ever know or imagine. He is one of a kind, unique and without comparison. Even describing him with mere words truly falls short of capturing who He is – our words simply cannot do justice to describe an indescribable Being.  God Is infinite – He is self-existing, and without origin. He has always been and will always be.  He is without beginning and without end.

 “Everlasting” on the other hand does not speak of the past, but speaks only of what will be in the future.  It means to last forever.  Never ending.  God’s arms are everlasting.  Does God have arms? Actually, our Heavenly Father is an invisible Spirit who has no physical body.  Although He has no body, the Bible often refers to Him using the physical characteristics of human beings such as His face, eyes, nose, hands, and feet as a means of communicating aspects of Him in a way that we can relate to.  In the Bible, the “arm of the Lord” is a vivid image of God’s saving power. The picture suggests a little child, wrapped up in the strong arms of a father who is able to withstand all storms and dangers.  As an expression of his love and protection, a father puts his arm around his child when it is in danger. His arms are strong and safe.

Not only do the arms of God embrace His child—but they are always underneath. That means that we can never sink—for these arms will always be beneath us, wherever we may be found. Sometimes we say the waters of trouble are very deep; like great floods they roll over us. But still and forever, underneath the deepest floods—are these amazing and blessed everlasting arms. We cannot sink below them—or out of their clasp!

In the great hymn, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, we sing these words: “What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms.”  So lean - dear child of God - lean!  His arms are strong.  His arms endure forever.  He is your hiding place and refuge.  Lean on His everlasting arms.  Don’t be afraid to let go because His everlasting arms are underneath you and will keep you from falling.