The next promise we will look at came to Israel. He is reminding them that they are His chosen people. But in speaking of Jacob the one who was conniving and sometimes untrustworthy as well as Abraham, who God called a friend that there was a family relationship. God is reminding them that they are His servants, He chose them and that they are not cast off. Even when they wonder and maybe feel far from God they are not because He is with them wherever they go!
“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off’ fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God’ I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:8-10
But let’s not forget that this promise is for us too because we have been adopted into the family of God.
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15
This passage is both a command and a promise. When God says “fear not” we are to take that seriously. We who belong to God are not to live in fear and be riddled with anxiety. We are to place our trust in Him and remember that He is with us no matter what is happening. That doesn’t mean that bad things won’t happen but that He will walk us through them when they do. Life is hard! We live in a broken, fallen sinful world. But when we belong to Christ, and have been adopted into the family of God, then we have God with us no matter what is happening. Fear is a scare tactic of Satan. If he can get us to fear then he is undermining our relationship with God.
The last part of this promise says “I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” In reading and studying this verse a point was made in my commentary that many people worship idols that are made from wood or stone. These idols sometimes have to be tied to something or propped up. But our God holds us up, with His righteous right hand!
Now I know in our culture most people I know would not be worshipping an idol that was a statue. But we have our idols that we worship too. Some people worship their jobs. They put so much time and attention into their job that it can become an idol to them. Some people worship their cars, if they aren’t careful they think that is a status symbol to show the world they have arrived. Homes can be that way too. And I am sure there are many more things or sometimes people that we put on a pedestal. We don’t think of it as idol worship but if it is more important than your relationship with God, that is what it is.
But our God holds US up, we don’t hold Him. He is there to help us walk through this life. He is there to give us strength for each day ahead of us. He is there to show us the way in which we should walk and He is there for us to trust and not to fear. When we walk out our days in fear and unbelief we are not trusting Him. It’s like snubbing our nose at who God says He is. I have been guilty of this. And it grieves my heart so much to remember the times I have been guilty of it. It’s like saying that what Jesus did on the cross to bring me into His family was not enough for me to trust Him. I don’t want to be guilty of that anymore. I don’t want to walk in fear of what tomorrow holds. I just want to rest in the promise that no matter what comes my way that my God is going to give me strength and He is going to hold me up with His righteous right hand!
Restore 