The Unseen Hand

“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” (Ac 18:9-10 AV)

It is important to believe in the unseen help which the LORD has already provided.  The phrase “the unseen hand” has uncertain origins and has a wildly different application.  The phrase was popularized in a speech during WWI to describe a hypothetical German force undermining British stability.  The phrase is altered a bit when referring to other unseen forces influencing outcomes.  The unseen hand of God is a theological term used to describe the workings of God that are noticed on their face, yet the details of how it came to pass are unseen.  Because God is infinite and His works follow, by definition most of what God does is unseen.  It is faith in the unseen which gives strength to endure.  We place much value on what can be seen, and we limit the possibility of what cannot be seen.  The opposite should be true.  There should be more faith and value in what cannot be seen than what can be seen.

If you’ve ever had surgery, you know the support staff that tends to your needs is represented by a fraction of those who are in the ER.  I have had a few and I can tell you, the hospital provides many people who are advocating for your health and safety beyond what can be observed.  In the ER you have the doctor and the anesthesiologist.  There is the surgical tech and perhaps a nurse.  Maybe there is one other person.  The most I have had at any one surgery is five medical workers.  Behind them and not directly involved in every detail is the recovery team.  There is the recovery doctor who monitors you as you come out of anesthesia.  There are the nurses who monitor your vital signs and make you comfortable.  Then there are the pharmacists who cross-check all your medications.  These people assure you that no matter the prescription, side effects will be held to a minimum. There are the kitchen staff that prepare your meals, the vendors who provide all the material support needed for your care, and there are the administrators who pay for it all.  There are maintenance people who keep everything running as it should.  There is janitorial staff that provides germ-free environment for your surgery.  In other words, a simple tonsillectomy involves hundreds of people who assure your surgery is successful and safe.

Why is it when it comes to the LORD, we limit what He can do?  We limit him to things that are seen and forget the vast amount that in not seen.  The unseen hand of God bears us far more than we want to credit Him for.  Paul’s life was threatened if he refused to stop preaching about Jesus.  This tempted him to refrain from preaching.  It was the assurance of the unseen hand of God that gave him the courage to preach.  This preaching changed a city.  Paul was bold enough to take for granted God had his back.  God always has our backs.  Regardless of what can or cannot be seen, the LORD is always there.  He is always working.  He is always active even when we cannot see that activity.  Paul was unaware of the help that was waiting for him.  The LORD did not name names.  He did not tell Paul the specifics of who these people were.  The only assurance God gave Paul was that the help existed.  Paul was required to take that by faith and serve Him with courage.  The LORD may never tell us the details of our pending help.  But it is real nonetheless.  Let us presume upon the grace and help of God, going on to victory rather than cower in defeat.