Isaiah 41:9b-10 -“For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
If there was ever a question regarding the level of patience God has, you need to look no further than the Israelites. God chose them to represent him in this world. Let the record show that they have failed him time and time again. Judgment followed, then repentance, and then a right relationship returned. Since the Israelites relied on God to sustain and help them, it was a frightful prospect to be abandoned by their God. So when the Lord says thru Isaiah “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you”, this provides relieve. All the surrounding nations had their own gods who supposedly had special powers like helping crops grow or providing victory in war, but when they failed to produce the desired results it became apparent that the God of the Jews was the only true God.
One day all of God’s followers will come together. We will not ever need to fear God because his word declares that “I am with you”; “I am your God” and his existence matched with our belief by faith provides to us assurance that what he has said in scripture is absolutely true and will come to pass. “He who has chosen Christ has joined himself to a power that no array of human wisdom or strength can overthrow.”*
Although skirmishes are at times lost, the battle has already been won. The devil wants you to not only doubt God, but yourself as well. His desire is that you question what you believe to the point that you step away from serving God thinking it is keeping you from something better. Never lose sight of just how great God is. The devil has been defeated. It is out of desperation that he rips and claws at the fabric of our faith in the attempt to spiritually neuter us. Only we can allow that to happen. Let God’s word “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you” resonate within your heart, mind and spirit as you continue to live for him. Next time we'll take a look at Chapter 42 in Isaiah. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!
Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; www.biblegateway.com.
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