I love watching shows that discover hidden talent in everyday people. One of my all-time favorites is “The Voice”. Each new season begins with contestants blind auditions before a panel of judges. The judges are not allowed to see the contenders while they perform. They must judge solely on the singer’s vocal talent. I really love this aspect of the show because I am especially frustrated by the way the entertainment business is prejudice when it comes to appearance. Everyone is pressured to look a certain way.
In season 2012, Cassadee Pope was the winner and she definitely deserved to win. I thought she had an amazing voice from her very first audition. Even before she won, her performances were ranking number one on I-tunes. I really enjoyed watching Cassadee perform, because each time she hit a high note, she stretched her arm high above her head, as if gathering an extra burst of power from thin air.
God’s outstretched arm embodies power in the Bible. In fact, God’s outstretched arm is often depicted as being the avenue through which His amazing power is unleashed.
“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” (Exodus 6:6)
“Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation… by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?” (Deuteronomy 4:34)
God’s outstretched arm released several ominous plagues on the Egyptians, revealing His mighty power over the created world. Each plague was a direct attack on the false Egyptian gods. The LORD needed to establish His authority in the eyes of both the Egyptians and the Israelites, because the Hebrew nation had become indoctrinated into the Egyptian culture that worshiped literally thousands of gods.
“With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it…” (Jeremiah 27:5)
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)
But I must say that my favorite display of God’s awesome power being poured out through His outstretched arms can be found in the New Testament. Christ’s outstretched arms on the cross revealed God’s most incredible act yet. And you and I get to reap the rewards of that power to this day. Our freedom and redemption depend on it.
“This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” (Acts 2:23)
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
