Isaiah 49:16 "behold, I have graven thee on the palms of My hands"
The children of Israel had been taken captive in Babylon. They began to feel as though God had deserted them...but Isaiah pointed out that just as a mother would never leave her child, God had "engraved" or" inscribed" His beloved children on the palms of His hand.
Every one of us, at some point in time, has gone through some type of bondage..something that seemed to hold us captive in some way..and it's very likely that many have questioned where God was in that situation. Beloved, it is not even in God's nature to leave one of His children. He has made provision for us in every way through the finished work of Jesus at the cross, to not only be with us in time of trouble, but to live IN us. You live in a body. You have a soul..a mind, will and emotions...but you also have His Spirit living in you. You have become the temple of the Holy Spirit. For Him to desert you in any way would mean that He didn't hold to the incredible covenant that we are part of, and God would never break covenant..His love is too great. Hebrews 8:12 speaks of that covenant when it says "for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Verse 10 says, "I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." Precious child, YOU are his! He says that all shall know Him from the least to the greatest.
He has made a way for us to know Him. He lives in the heart of the believer. He wants to reveal Himself to you. He longs for intimacy with you. He will not leave you. He has engraved you on the palm of His hand.
If you look up the word engraved, it means to permanently inscribe. Hundreds of years ago, there was a practice that involved one burning, or permanently puncturing... "inscribing" something that was of great value, onto the palm of one's hand. It signified that whatever had been inscribed was so important, that the wearer wanted to be continuously reminded of it.
Beloved, God has the image of YOU indelibly etched into His hand. You are always in His sight. You are always on His mind and in His heart. His eyes are fixed on you. You are always near to Him.
I think sometimes of the nail pierced hands of our Savior....that prove His victory over death..that validate His authority as Lord and Savior..that confirm how great a love He has for every one of us...and I am reminded again..that the hands that were pierced for me...for you...are the same hands that hold my life..and that carry my inscription. Beloved, you will never be forgotten!