The Finger of God

Last week, I was able to snap this picture while walking with the family, and the Lord brought a cool "object lesson" to my mind, which I hope to articulate with you.  Here's the picture:

That's my hand, holding my 2-year-old's hand as we walk down the street with the family.  Cassie and I have a particular way we hold hands: She grips my finger (which more than fills her tiny fist) and I wrap my remaining digits around her hand and wrist.  This way, she takes responsibility for following my command to "stay close" and hold on to me, particularly in potentially risky environments.  But far more than her small efforts at clinging to her protective father, it is I, in fact, who is claiming (and walking in) the ultimate responsibility for ensuring her well-being.  I see this as a very reassuring allegory to our walk with our Heavenly Father, as discussed in Philippians 2:12b-13 --

"...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

We who trust in our Saviour are simply and feebly gripping His finger, per se, while He is in fact wrapping His mighty hand all around our very being.  We love Him, only because He first loved us.

So try it, sometime.  On that next little walk with a dear little person, try this grip, and let it remind you of how much God truly loves you, His dear child.