Scripture:
Isaiah 41:8-14 NKJV
[8] “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. [9] You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: [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.’ [11] “Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. [12] You shall seek them and not find them— Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. [13] For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ [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.
Observation:
The way the Holy Spirit works is amazing to me. HE uses the word of GOD to counsel and teach us and to guide us into all righteousness. So when I was brought to Isaiah 41 this morning my heart couldn’t help but smile after 7 verses of warning to all the nations around Israel. A steady reminder that YAHWAH is GOD, and nothing happens that HE does not see or put into motion. But then HE gets to Israel. Stating that Israel is HIS servant. That Jacob had been hand-picked. The promise given by GOD’S word to Abraham. Even after Abraham’s misguided decision with the slave women. Isaac was born, who became the father of Jacob, who became the father of many nations. GOD’S promise fulfilled. Jacob had been chosen. Taken from the ends of the earth, GOD was going to use HIM and he needed to be reminded that he had not been cast away. He was chosen as a servant of GOD. I’m sure as the nation looked out at the shoreline and saw war on the horizon Fear was right at the top of the list of what they were feeling. So this message from GOD through the prophet Isaiah was timely. They needed to know that GOD had not forgotten HIS promises. HE was with them, HE had chosen them. That had not changed. They were HIS servant; the Fear that they were feeling could be put away, because YAHWAH was with them. HIS promises had not changed. As they looked out at vast armies that had positioned themselves against them, they could put the fear away. Knowing that GOD was fighting for them. GOD’S word to them is, “they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.” HIS encouragement continues as the message from Isaiah is spoken, “you will seek them and not find them-those who contended with you shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. What GOD is saying is HE will smash them as though they were not even there. HIS assurance to Israel was a continued piece of HIS promise. You see, the promised redeemer was to come from them, and that had not happened. GOD’S promises are yes and amen. They had been chosen to bring forth the SAVIOR of the world and that had not taken place. Israel is GOD’S chosen. Everything that happens in this world needs to be passed through that lens. HIS assurance of of that has not stopped just because the bible has been written many years ago. The bible is timeless. The promises that are spoken in it are just as much for today as they were when Isaiah was speaking them so many years ago. The reason we have the Bible is to assure us that those promises are for us as well. We have been adopted into HIS family through the blood of Christ.
Application:
After a long night of very little sleep, and a significant amount of prayer. It was refreshing to land on this scripture this morning. I needed to know that I could put the fear away, and honestly, it’s not something I didn’t know. It’s something I needed to be reminded of. Life can get overwhelming and enemies can rise up against us. Things can look hopeless. But one thing we need to remember is who is fighting for us. It doesn’t matter who rises up against us. GOD has chosen us as HIS servants. Our purpose in life is to seek HIM and speak truth in love. Sometimes that’s hard for people to hear. People want to hear that sin is ok. GOD still hates sin. That hasn’t changed. The bible says it’s the same today, tomorrow, and always. GOD has sent a redeemer. HE has been sent to make things right. My question for you today is this: if it were ok to live in sin, why did Jesus tell people not to sin? I believe our efforts matter. If we can live in open sin we might want to check our relationship with GOD. If our sins don’t break our hearts, then something is missing. This message is not popular, and I have no idea why it’s coming out. Especially from Isaiah 41 with the exception that I believe that HE is still choosing people to be HIS servants, and the truth needs to be spoken. I think about that day of the trial as they asked who to set free, and the people shouted give us Barrabas what they were essentially saying is give us our sin. We cling to it like grave clothes. But when Lazarus came out of the grave. Jesus said Take those off of him. Jesus HIMSELF left HIS in the tomb. GOD has given us HIS holy spirit. Let us tune our ears to hear HIM. HE has chosen us as HIS servant. Let us speak the truth in love. That truth is that GOD sent HIS one and only Son to free us from sin. HE has set you free you no longer have to live that way. Today you have a choice. I know the bible is hard for some of us to understand and the issue of grace is even more difficult. But it’s all there. Shall we sin all the more so that grace shall abound, by no means. How can we who are dead to sin continue in it? Again I have no idea how I got here except for the fact that HE has called me to be HIS servant. I am not saying that I am perfect or that I have reached perfection, but we press on. All I can say is that if you are reading this, maybe it’s for you. Maybe HE is telling you it’s time to let go of that thing that keeps on hurting you. That sin that so easily besets you. As HIS servant I know I’m not popular, it’s ok I know that HE is fighting for me, and those who will rise up against me will seem nonexistent. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the path for Jesus. His words were, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” I think we all could spend time on our knees surrendering our sin to the father.
Prayer:
Father, I have been obedient to say what you wanted me to say. I have no idea why you brought me to the scripture you did and then asked me to speak on what you did, but I have done my part. Now the rest is up to you. I’m only a servant. You know who this is for so I pray that it would land in their hear the way that only you can place it there. As I sit here, I know that I myself am not perfect. I pray that you fill me with your Holy Spirit. That you break our hearts for what breaks yours. You are the master craftsman. Making beauty for ashes. We surrender to you to build us. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.