“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10)
TEXT — Isaiah 41:8-16
Message
During the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, someone (Steven Croft) exclaimed: “Fear has been a feature of our journey through COVID-19: fear of the disease itself and its consequences; fear of death and dying; fear of the effects on our families.” But amidst myriad of dangers, God’s presence and promises assure us of victory.
Today’s text is God’s message to assure His people that they have no reason to fear because He is present with them. In contrast to the pagan nations, God says of Israel, “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, my friend.” Here, God reminds Israel of His unique relationship with them because of His covenant with Abraham, their father. He calls them His servants, and He says they are chosen. Thus, the blessings they enjoyed would not be due to their worthiness but because of God’s unmerited favour in choosing them for His own.
One distinctive feature of Isaiah’s prophecies is the use of contrasts. Many times, he compares the other nations that worshipped idols with Israel, which served the living God. Whereas the gods of the heathen were powerless and burdens to be carried by the worshippers, God presented Himself as the One who carried and protected His people in times of trouble.
In the New Testament, those who believe in Christ are qualified to partake in the Abrahamic blessings by faith (Galatians 3:13,14). The implication is that Christians can also enjoy the assurance of divine presence, protection, and power given to Israel in this passage. God’s presence and power will enable us to overcome all adversaries even though we appear weak and fragile like a worm. We will also be equipped to serve God in a new and hitherto unknown way. Being chosen in Christ, we are qualified to be partakers of the saints’ inheritance. What a comfort to know the Lord is with us all through our faith journey.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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