"His Hand Is Stretched Out Still"

The selection of Isaiah chapters taught in the Book of Mormon is most interesting. Many of them deal with the scattering and later gathering of Israel and Israel's future events.  One of these prophecies deals with the Savior's mortal life, foretold 700 years before its occurrence.

The tone is set with the geographical background of Galilee, the place where Jesus grew up. Isaiah prophesies, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined" (2 Nephi 19: 2; Isaiah 9: 2).

Light is contrasted with darkness, and death with eternal life, as given by the Savior. This is a region often occupied with enemy warriors from Assyria and Babylon on their way to attack Jerusalem and other areas to the south. Thus, it was termed "the land of the shadow of death." Also, the rocky terrain of some of this area would cast a dark shadow upon the face of the land. And yet it would become home to the Light of the World.

The reader can sense a central theme, perceiving the light at the end of the tunnel (no pun intended). No matter how bad things get, the Lord's hand is not stayed. Yet Israel's woes continue, in spite of its Hebrew name meaning "to prevail with God" (see Genesis 32: 28).

The blood and gore continue, described only as Isaiah can, "For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood" (2 Nephi 19: 5). Ephraim and Samaria will say in "stoutness of heart," "The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars" (v. 10). But in spite of such confidence, the Syrians are before and the Philistines behind; "and they shall devour Israel with open mouth." 

Then comes the first wave of this Messianic message: "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still" (v. 12).

Next, Israel loses "head and tail, branch and rush in one day" (v. 14). Now that's a bad flip of the coin. "And every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still" (v. 17).

Israel, now with two strikes against her, goes up against a forest fire and mounting smoke. Beware: Trees are never just trees in Isaiah; they're people. And the people are going to get consumed in the fire of addiction, as they snatch on the right hand and are left hungry; and they eat on the left hand and they shall not be satisfied (vv. 18-20). They feel what we call the "God hole" as they try to fill the emptiness with drugs of choice.

Then internal conflicts arise as Ephraim and Manasseh prepare attacks against the southern kingdom of Judah, and it seems as if Israel might self-destruct. But this ain't baseball; it's God at work. And the familiar refrain repeats, "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still" (v. 21).

The Lord poses a question: "To whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?" As if He might ask, where else will you turn? And what is your price? How much will it take before you sell yourself to the enemy? (see 2 Nephi 20: 3).

After the Nephite destruction when all seemed hopeless for one branch of the House of Israel, the voice of the Lord was heard to say, "how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you. . . . how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not . . . how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart" (3 Nephi 10: 4-6).

At His actual appearance to the inhabitants of the New World the scripture records, "And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world" (3 Nephi 11: 9-10).

At the moment when it seems like all second chances have been exhausted, and all hope is dashed, He stretches forth His hand to rescue, empower, and heal.