"Is The Lord's Hand Waxed Short?"
Not long after the children of Israel had been delivered from Egyptian bondage they began to murmur and complain. When Moses went to the Lord with their complaint for not having flesh to eat God promised to give them flesh for a whole month until it ran out of their nostrils. (Num. 11:18-20) Moses seemed rather doubtful of God being able to fulfill this promise, "And Moses said, The people among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and Thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them, to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not." (Num. 11:21-23) God was well able to supply their need. His hand was not short.
A similar doubt had been expressed by Sarah when she heard she was to bear a child. "Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." (Gen. 18:12-14)
Men often seem to doubt the power of God to do what He has promised to do. They seem to think that their good judgment and help are needed to make fulfillment of some promises possible. Men are frequently well impressed with their own wisdom and ability and do not hesitate to push forward their own plans. Like Solomon said, "Every way of man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts." (Prov. 21:2)
The Lord's hand is not waxed short. He is indeed able to do what He promises. He revealed Himself to Abraham as the Almighty God. (Gen. 17:1) This is well demonstrated. He spoke and the world came into being. (Gen. 1:1) God made all things and every thing He made was very good. (Gen. 1:31) With His mighty power He delivered Noah and his family from the flood (Gen. 6: 12-14), and saved Israel out of the hand of the Egyptians (Ex. 14:21, 22 30) He has provided salvation for man through His Son, Jesus Christ. (John 3:16) From all eternity God purposed the church in Christ with His blessings therein for man. (Eph. 3:8-11) With the Hebrew writer we can well say, "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:" (Heb. 11:32) These were all men of faith and men through whom God demonstrated His power. Indeed the Lord's hand is not short!
Neither is the Lord's work short. God's work is complete, perfect, lacking in nothing. "He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." (Deut. 32:4) The same is true of God's way, "As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him." (Ps. 18:30) God does not depend upon nor solicit the ideas, plans nor inventions of men to accomplish His work.
In every thing God has provided sufficiency — completeness. In Christ Jesus God has provided a Saviour who was and is sufficient to save all men. (Heb. 2:9; 7:25) There is salvation in none other name. (Acts 4:12) When Catholics say that other mediators are needed and teach that their priests are mediators, other Christ's, in spite of the "....one Mediator...." (1 Tim. 2:5) they indicate that they believe the Lord's hand is waxed short — that Christ is not a sufficient Mediator.
God has provided the gospel plan of Salvation — sufficient for all mankind. (Rom. 1:16; Acts 2:36-41; 1 Cor. 6:9-11) Men are not satisfied with God's plan and pervert His gospel and teach the doctrines and commandments of men. (Gal. 1:6-9; Matt. 15:8, 9) Such indeed shows a lack of faith in God's power. God's question, "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" well applies to the producers and proclaimers of every human scheme of salvation. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; . ." (Isa. 59:1) God has provided the church, the one body to contain the saved of earth. (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4; 5:23) Men feel that one church is not sufficient to cope with the needs, the temperaments, the different backgrounds, the likes and dislikes of all men so they have brought forth their own "churches," plants which will be uprooted. (Matt. 15:13) "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" Is God's way not sufficient? God does not need human institutions to assist Him. His work is perfect — complete in every detail.
God has provided us with sufficient instruction — a safe and complete guide to direct us and to furnish us thoroughly unto all good works. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) We need to believe and obey His word. To fail to abide in the teaching of God is to be without God. (2 John 9) The introduction of human creeds and doctrines implies the Lord's hand is waxed short.
In this complete guide, the Bible, God has provided for sufficient work for the church: Teach, preach, uphold the truth (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; 1 Tim. 3:15), edify itself (Eph. 4:15,16), help needy saints (1 Cor. 16:1, 2; 1 Tim. 5:16) and do all this according to the oracles of God. (1 Peter 4:11) When men establish auxiliaries, boards, societies, and other such human institutions to assist in the carrying out of this work or add to this work, they show lack of faith in the Lord. "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" Is His work and His way short of perfection? After more than 1800 years without the inventions and innovations of institutional minded men, does God now have to have these human missionary and benevolent societies to accomplish His work? Surely not!
Let us profit by heeding the truth and wisdom of these great statements:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Prov. 3:5)
"0 Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:23)
....But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." (Isa. 68:2)
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