Topical Bible: Power of God: The Arm of God

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of the "Arm of God" is a powerful metaphor used throughout the Bible to describe God's might, authority, and intervention in the world. This imagery conveys the strength and active presence of God in the affairs of humanity, often associated with deliverance, judgment, and salvation.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the "Arm of God" is frequently depicted as a symbol of divine power and deliverance. One of the most notable instances is found in the Exodus narrative, where God delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. In Exodus 6:6 , God declares, "Therefore tell 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.’" Here, the "outstretched arm" signifies God's direct intervention and power in liberating His people.

The Psalms also celebrate the "Arm of God" as a source of strength and salvation. Psalm 98:1 proclaims, "Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him." This verse highlights the arm as an instrument of God's saving acts, emphasizing His ability to accomplish His purposes.

Isaiah frequently uses the imagery of God's arm to convey both judgment and redemption. In Isaiah 51:9 , the prophet calls upon the arm of the LORD: "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days of old, as in generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?" This plea for the arm to awaken reflects a desire for God to act powerfully as He did in the past.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the "Arm of God" is understood in the context of Jesus Christ, who embodies the ultimate expression of God's power and salvation. The Gospel of John alludes to this in John 12:38 , quoting Isaiah: "This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: 'Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'" Here, the revelation of God's arm is linked to the coming of Christ and His redemptive work.

The Apostle Paul further expounds on the power of God through Christ in his epistles. In Ephesians 1:19-20 , Paul speaks of "the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. He displayed this power in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms." The resurrection and exaltation of Christ are seen as the ultimate demonstration of God's powerful arm.

Theological Significance

The "Arm of God" serves as a profound theological symbol, representing God's active involvement in the world. It reassures believers of His ability to save, protect, and execute justice. The imagery underscores the belief in a God who is not distant or passive but is dynamically engaged in the unfolding of His divine plan.

Throughout Scripture, the "Arm of God" is a reminder of His sovereignty and faithfulness. It calls believers to trust in His power, to seek His intervention in times of need, and to recognize His hand at work in both the grand narrative of redemption and the personal accounts of faith.

Nave's Topical Index

Job 40:9
Have you an arm like God? or can you thunder with a voice like him?
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 52:10
The LORD has made bore his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Power of God
... Is anything too hard for God?' Jeremiah 32:27. We stagger through unbelief, as if
the arm of God's power were shrunk, and he could not help in desperate cases. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/6 the power of god.htm

The Arm of the Lord
... The conception of Jesus Christ as the arm of the Lord, when united with ... manner of
His operations, as the personal manifestation of the active power of God. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the arm of the lord.htm

The Being of God
... a God that can supply all your wants, scatter all your fears, resolve all your doubts,
conquer all your temptations; the arm of God's power can never be shrunk ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 the being of god.htm

The God who Dwells with Men
... Gospel of Christ 'is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.'
There is divine power in its ... This 'strong Son of God' is the arm of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the god who dwells with.htm

The Story of God's Mighty Acts
... to be according to the ordinary working of his mighty power. ... Whatever God has done
in the way of converting sinners is ... upon as a precedent, for "his arm is not ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the story of gods mighty.htm

'The Hands of the Mighty God of Jacob'
... human power is weakness when it is strongest, and that power drawn from God is
omnipotent ... them, of whom it is written: 'Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the hands of the mighty.htm

A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
... The first generation which has lived through some great epoch, when God's
arm has been made bare, retains the impression of His power. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a summary of israels faithlessness.htm

Of the Fact that the God of the Jews, after the Subjugation of ...
... this bribe of impunity did they not rather arm the gathered ... For they have it not
in their power to give kingship ... that is done by the one true God, according to ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xii of the fact that.htm

Thou Art My Strength, O God My Lord,
... 8,8,8,8. Thou art my strength, O God my Lord,. Weak is my arm, and faint my heart;
Thou dost inspire me by Thy word,. And to my life Thy power impart. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/xxii thou art my strength.htm

Christ --The Power and Wisdom of God
... died;" and he just pleads the name of Christ as the power of God ... God has put his
hand upon him ... With this he keeps the devil at arm's length; with this he fights ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/christthe power and wisdom of.htm