The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. (Isaiah 52:10)

The Holy Arm Of God

When God wanted to describe Himself to humanity, He used many metaphors illustrating His power and might. There are references to God as a shepherd, potter, fire, flood, rock, king, light, fortress, bridegroom, and many more. In Isaiah’s book, the Lord describes Him displaying His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations. This metaphor is taken from the warriors who would bare their arms to prepare for battle. A bare arm shows the bold courage of a warrior to fight without the encumbrance and protection of armor. There is no mistaking the purpose of God to show all nations that He rules and reigns in the affairs of men.

Israel was in a downward spiral because they had turned away from God. They had rejected His word, killed His prophets, and filled the land with idolatry. The wrath of God would bring nations against Israel to punish them, and baring the arm was a symbol of the Lord’s judgment. All the nations would see the power of God working in the nation of Israel as the Lord punished His people and the nations of the world. There is an unmistakable image of the power and authority of the Lord God that His will is accomplished in His way. For His foes, this would bring terror. To the faithful remnant of the Lord, it would instill faith and hope, knowing how great and powerful their God is.

The greatest illustration of the holy arm of God is when He raised Jesus from the dead. As the miracle of miracles, the resurrection is the clear evidence of how powerful the will of the Lord is. There is nothing in the arsenal of men that can compare to the absolute authority of the Lord God. When He bares His arm, there are consequences. To the enemies of the Lord, there is fear and trepidation. For those in covenant with God, the holy arm of the Lord is protection, security, and hope. The holy arm of the Lord will bring destruction against all who oppose the will of the Father. Jesus taught the consequences of His Father’s holy arm as eternal punishment. He also showed His disciples there is nothing to fear because the holy arm of His Father will protect His people.

One of the joys for the Christian is knowing that Satan has no power against those protected by the holy arm of the Lord. There is no greater power. The devil is useless against the will of the Father. Sin does not have to have dominion over those who stand in the shadow of the holy arm of the Lord. When the child of God faces the trials of life, God’s arm comforts and soothes. As the world seeks to persecute and revile the holy people of God, the holy arm of the eternal Father bares itself as testimony to faith, hope, and love. There is nothing to fear. No power can overwhelm the holy arm of the Lord when He bares His might against all those who seek to destroy His children.