Men and women like to think we are capable and independent, needing no outside assistance and influence. We rejoice in our freewill, our achievements, our progress.
So it is perhaps significant, if not inconvenient, that scripture repeatedly uses phrases such as; ‘not made with human hands’!
In Ex 25.8-9, God spoke to Moses, instructing him concerning the constriction of a ‘sanctuary,’ the Tabernacle. He showed the Moses a Tabernacle which was to be the pattern for the Tabernacle which Moses would make.
Hebrews 8.5 echoes this; ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ Verse 2 goes further, stating that Moses had seen the Tabernacle which had been ‘set up by the Lord,’ ie: not by man. So the Tabernacle, which was constructed under Moses’ supervision (see Ex 40), became the dwelling place of God and the centre for Jewish worship for centuries, remaining in use until the reign of Solomon (1 Chr 21.29 & 1 Kings 3.4).
Jumping forward several more centuries the prophet Daniel, serving in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. In Dan 2, Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by a dream of ‘a great image’ (v31). Daniel interprets this image as a series of human kingdoms (v38-43).
The image was destroyed when it was struck by a great stone ‘cut out by no human hand’ (v34). In his interpretation, Daniel refers to the kingdom set up by the God of heaven; a kingdom that shall never be destroyed (v44); in contrast to the image which is destroyed. The wording of v45 leaves us in no doubt as to this link. Later, Jesus’ words, so frequently spoken, ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (e.g: Matt 4.17), clearly echo Daniel’s words. It is the kingdom inaugurated by Jesus Christ that is this stone ‘cut out by no human hand.’
The gospel writer John follows this theme.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Those who respond to Christ, receiving Him into their lives, do so because ‘of God.’ Belonging to Christ is not as a result of human birth nor human choice, by ‘of God.’ Salvation is truly and fully of the Lord. Paul writes that the salvation of God is ‘from faith to faith’ (Rom 1.17), or from beginning to end. Put another way; ‘not made by human hands.’
Finally, Paul addresses issues affecting (infecting?) the Christians in Galatia. For example:
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Unlike the Twelve, Paul had not met Christ in the flesh. God had revealed the gospel to him ‘through a revelation of Jesus Christ.’ The message, he insisted, is not of human origin.
Paul had already anathematized those who sought to ‘distort the gospel of Christ’ (v7-9). If anyone, even (apparently) an angel from heaven, preaches a ‘different’ gospel, it is no gospel. The letter to the Galatians further describes this error and Paul repeats his abhorrence (e.g: 3.1-6; 5.12).
In conclusion, the scriptures insist that we humans are much less able than we think we are. The scriptures urge us to cast ourselves on the God who is totally able to save and sustain, to rescue and keep us.