I have been thinking on Isaiah 41 since this morning when we prayed and you shared your thoughts with me. What beautiful promises for God's servants. The Jewish people are no different from us. They probably thought of many reasons to fear as they begin their long journey home. The reason not to fear, however, is a very big one...The Lord was with them and would go before them and work on their behalf. The Lord is with you...Toni...He tells us three times in this chapter to fear not.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:13 13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Isaiah 41:14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
He calls them my servant...which is honorable...but then he calls them a worm. We are His servants by God's grace. Worms are who we are in ourselves. They went ahead in faith and made ...this is my favorite part...mountains into molehills...This is my prayer for you...a servant of God by His grace that you will walk by faith and by His grace make this mountain you are facing a molehill. Then there is also the picture Isaiah gives of a desert becoming a garden. That so reminds me of Psalm 84:
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
Toni...He will perfect those things that concern you...He will be your rear guard...your Light in the darkness...Your strength and your song...He will make the crooked places straight. Our God will do it...He is faithful...His grace will be there in the nick of time...Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Next, the Israelites looked ahead as we always do and become anxious...(21-29) Our God knows the future...He has everything under control...no need to worry...His love and His plans for us are perfect.I think of what Warren Wiersbe says here about Psalm 33:11..His plans come from His heart and His heart is one of love for us...so we need not fear.
I read the following on Randy Alcorn's blog. It was part of an email sent to him by Sono Harris (Gregg Harris' wife and Joshua Harris' mom) to encourage him during a bout he was having with depression. The entire email is encouraging but here is how she ended it:
"Oh, Randy, it seems that His servants who are used in special ways often experience commensurate trials. These trials are simultaneously burdens God gives to keep them utterly dependent; and thorns which pin back the veil that hides His face. In a fallen world, they are gifts."
How beautiful is that....thinking and praying for you tomorrow.
1 comment:
I cried when I read this Jean. Oh how He is faithful, and as Toni and I sat in the hospital the day of her tests we discussed Him and His Word and faithfulness to guide, provide and give all needed as Toni started on this journey into the unknown. Thanks for resharing. I needed these verses today too.
In Him Who is able,
Joni
Post a Comment