Left Hand of God
“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
Job 2:10
For years Karen and her husband, Doug, struggled to have children; then finally, after many disappointments, God blessed them with a beautiful baby girl. Months later their daughter was diagnosed with a severe and debilitating disease. Karen’s eyes were red and swollen as she struggled to smile. She sighed and said, “I would rather receive something from the left hand of God than nothing at all.” The comment revealed her keen knowledge of Middle Eastern culture. Among Arab Bedouins and nomads, the left hand is reserved for menial and often dirty tasks—it is therefore an affront to offer anything from your left hand.
But Karen will wholeheartedly take whatever God gives her. Anything from either hand of God is better than nothing. She casts herself on him because she is convinced that all things that come from him are ultimately good. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,” Psalm 107:1 declares. When it came to her child’s bad medical report, Karen realized that God signed the authorization papers. She would say with Job, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away” (Job 1:21).
Karen and her family are living out the text of Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” Karen may not understand God’s secret plan, but she can follow God’s revealed words. He is good, and therefore she can trust him.
Shall we accept good from God’s right hand and not trouble from his left? In whatever way God chooses to unfold his purpose in our lives, can we say with Job, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15)?
Lord, let me take your hand today. I trust that you will lead me by your goodness, mercy, and love.
Weak Woman, Strong God
Dr. Sutherland joins the podcast to share how God has sustained her through suffering and taught her to rely on his strength in her weakness.
