His Hand is Stretched Out

Isaiah wrote these sobering words about the last days, “Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still” (Isaiah 5:25). He repeated a similar statement three times in a chapter about the Messiah. He wrote, “The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts…. Every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still….    Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still” (Isaiah 9:12-13, 17, 21). I have written before about how this phrase—“his hand is stretched out still”—can be interpreted in two ways. His hand could be stretched out in mercy to save us, but it can also be stretched out in judgment to punish the wicked. The text seems to favor the latter interpretation, as do some other translations. For example, the New Living Translation puts the verse this way, “But even then the LORD’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.” But a footnote in Latter-day Saint scriptures on Isaiah 9:12 takes the former view: “In spite of all, the Lord is available if they will turn to Him.” As I mentioned before, I believe there is validity in both interpretations; His justice will not be denied for the unrepentant but His mercy is available for those who come unto Him.

            Whatever the original intent of Isaiah, there are passages in the New Testament that remind us that the Savior’s hand has been stretched out towards His people to help them. When Peter walked on the water towards Jesus and started to sink, “Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Surely that outstretched hand was one of mercy and love, even if there was reproach in His words to His chief apostle. On another occasion as He taught the people, “He stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:49-50). In that case His hand was stretched out to all of them, teaching that if they sought to do the will of the Father they would be His people. Later after His ascension, His disciples prayed amidst the persecution at Jersualem. “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Acts 4:30). I love that additional verb: His hand is stretched out to heal. Paul later wrote, “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Romans 10:21). This appears to be a reference to the words of Isaiah, and to me Paul’s language suggests that these hands stretched out are full of invitation and mercy for all Israel to come unto Him.

            When the Savior spoke to Peter at the Sea of Tiberius, He said this: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me” (John 21:18-19). This was a prophecy about Peter who was to be crucified upside down, with his hands stretched forth. This passage reminds us that the Savior too was crucified with His hand stretched out. That image of the Savior lifted up on the cross with his arms and hands stretched out, nailed to the wood, is a powerful indication of what it might mean for His hands to be stretched out still. That image is full of mercy, reminding us that He suffered on the cross to provide us mercy. Certainly His justice will come upon the wicked, but we can focus on the hands stretched out upon the cross in invitation for all of us, saying now as He said then: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).