Just outside Ravenna, Italy, in the port of Classe, stands a church built in the sixth century A.D. by the Byzantine emperor Justinian after he had re-conquered Italy from the Ostrogoths. Justinian built the church of San Apollinare in Classe (and the beautiful church of San Vitale in Ravenna) to commemorate the re-conquest of the former Western capital of the Roman Empire which now became the Byzantine western political seat, the ex-archate of Ravenna.

Justinian adorned both churches with magnificent marble and mosaics. Above the altar of San Apollinare in Classe he had a large mosaic constructed showing Christ as the good shepherd with his twelve apostles as sheep. The mosaic contains a prevailing green hue to indicate peace, and other symbols of the church and the gospel are to be found in what he intended would be a representation of the whole of Christ’s rule. At the top of the mosaic is a hand, protruding out of the sky into the realm of man where Christ now rules. The hand is situated above the sheep and all the other figures of the mosaic. It is meant to be the hand of God, a symbol of his overarching providence that guides all human affairs.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast,” thus wrote the Psalmist in Psalm 139:7-10. The hand of God represents his involvement in our affairs to purpose, ordain, and work out the details of our lives so that His eternal counsel is fulfilled, He is glorified, and we, His people are blessed. This guidance by the hand of God we call His providence. It is a significant and vital subject and shall be the topic of our devotionals for the next few weeks.