December
29, 2003
I
HAVE INSCRIBED YOU
ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS
"Can
a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion
on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will
not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of
My hands" (Isaiah 49:15, 16, NKJV).
The strongest
love known to mankind is the love of a mother for her children,
and this love Isaiah uses to illustrate the love of God for
His "creation", His children.
Jesus
tenderly loves His family. He is referred to in scripture
as the "good Shepherd." He says of Himself, "I
am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for
the sheep" (John 10:11).
"As
the shepherd leads his flock over the rocky hills, through
forest and wild ravines, to grassy nooks by the riverside;
as he watches them on the mountains through the lonely night,
shielding from robbers, caring tenderly for the sickly and
feeble, his life comes to be one with theirs. A strong and
tender attachment unites him to the objects of his care. However
large the flock, the shepherd knows every sheep. Every one
has its name, and responds to the name at the shepherd's call.
"As
an earthly shepherd knows his sheep, so does the divine Shepherd
know His flock that are scattered throughout the world. 'You
are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I
am your God,' says the Lord God. Jesus says, 'I
have called you by your name, you are Mine.' 'I have inscribed
you on the palms of My hands' (Ezekiel 34:31; Isaiah
43:1; 49:16)...
"Every
soul is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one
for whom the Saviour died. The distress of every one touches
His heart. The cry for aid reaches His ear. He came to draw
all men unto Himself. He bids them, 'Follow
Me,' and His Spirit moves upon their hearts to draw
them to come to Him. Many refuse to be drawn. Jesus knows
who they are. He also knows who gladly hear His call, and
are ready to come under His pastoral care. He says, 'My
sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand' (John
10:27, 28). He cares for each one as if there were not another
on the face of the earth"-- Desire of Ages,
pp. 479, 480.
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