THE TATTOOS OF GOD
Tuesday, June 19, 2012


What is one of the hottest fashion trends? It has to be tattoos. The tattoo industry is thriving it seems. In the United States, there are roughly 20,000 tattoo parlors operating. It has also been estimated that a new tattoo studio is being added every day in this country.

Here are a few tattoo facts and statistics. A study conducted by the Journal of the “American Academy of Dermatology” in 2006, revealed that 24% of Americans from 18-25 age group sport a tattoo (1 in 4 people). Also, the survey found that nearly 36% of Americans from 18-29 age group flaunt a single tattoo at least.

In other words, what was considered ugly, when I was growing up in the 1950's, is now becoming very popular.

Why should the topic of tattoos come up in a place like this? I share it because it seems that God has tattoos. Shocking? In a very pastoral, grace-filled chapter of Isaiah’s prophecy we are told that God has names engraved on the palms of his hands. Wow! The thought of God having my name engraved, tattooed, on the palm of his hand is humbling. God remembers me because my name is on his palm.

    See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands . . . (Isaiah 49:16, NRSV)   

    Look, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands . . . (Isaiah 49:16, NJB)

Even though it is a paraphrase and can often be called into question, The Living Bible says:

    See, I have tattooed your name upon my palm . . . (Isaiah 49:16, Living)


If we look at the context, the nation of Israel is feeling forgotten by God. The circumstances are horrible from the perspective of the Jews. They are in exile, cutoff from their homeland. Has God abandoned them? This is what the prophecy says:

    But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.”
    Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
    Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. (Isaiah 49:14-15, NRSV)


After that promise of never forgetting, God stated that their names are tattooed on the palm of his hand. We can move that promise from God into our situations. God never forgets us. Circumstances may seem terrible, and burdens may feel like they might crush us at any moment, but we are never forgotten by God. We may even feel forgotten and all alone because of what is happening in our lives, but God has our names tattooed on the palm of his hand. He will never forget us. That is his promise to each one of us.

Maybe you have a tattoo that helps you to remember . . . a religious symbol . . . a name of someone special. God also has his tattoos . . . my name and your name. He never forgets.