Dear brothers & sisters,
God reveals many things about his purposes for judgement and salvation in the book of Isaiah, both hard words of coming judgement and wrath and gentle words of comfort and peace. Today, I invite you to hear and trust in God's word. The passages I have chosen are three of the eight passages in Isaiah where God says “Fear Not”. (Note: in those 8 passages, God says “fear not” fifteen times.)
Isaiah chapters 7-8
Isaiah 7 opens with a threat facing the nation of Judah. The Syrians and the kingdom of northern Israel were planning to attack Jerusalem (see 7:1). When the royal house of David, heard that Syria and Ephraim had made an alliance, Isaiah writes "the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind." (7:2). They were afraid. War was coming, what could they do? Isaiah the prophet tells Ahaz "do not fear" (7:4). He assures Ahaz that the plans of the king of Syria and Israel “shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass" (7:7). After declaring his promise, God then tells Ahaz to "ask for a sign," but Ahaz refuses. He claims he doesn't want to put the Lord to the test, but behind his religious platitudes was a stubborn heart of unbelief (7:10-12). Though Ahaz would not ask for a sign, God gave a sign. In his grace, he promised a son named Immanuel (God with us) who would be born over 700 years later, God also graciously declared that Syria and Ephraim would be destroyed by the king of Assyria (7:15-25) within that generation, a prophecy which came to pass just as God said.
What hope does it bring you to see God’s grace towards stubborn Judah and His faithfulness to send His Eternal Son many generations later?
God continues, in Isaiah 8, prophesying about the coming Assyrian invasion and warning: 12 "Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.13 But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
This passage reminds us that even national turmoil and a coming invasion are not to be feared. Instead we ought to fear God, to "honor him as holy." To fear God is to worship him knowing that God is a sanctuary to those who fear him, and a stone of stumbling to those who refuse to honor him. To fear God is to recognize that He is the most wonderful refuge and the most terrible enemy and so to worship Him. Be in dread of God and he will not destroy you, he will be your refuge. He will protect you from all that this world fears.
In the last five years the fears of people have come to the forefront, fear of Covid, fear of Government overreach, fear of rigged elections, fear of economic collapse, fear of all kinds. My question to you is "Do you fear God above all?" Such fears will consume you if you do not trust Him.
Our second Scripture is…
Isaiah 41:8-16
10 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. 11 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. 12 You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.13 For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
How does God comfort his people? He reminds us of his presence (I am with you), his strength (I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you). He promises that those who are opposed to us will one day "be as nothing and shall perish." He speaks comforting words to us "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." In verse fourteen, God compares Israel to a worm, reminding us how helpless and small we are in comparison with God. YET HE HELPS US. How does it encourage you to know that the great and holy God of Israel helps even worms like us? No matter what you think of yourself - God's grace is so great that he delights to help us. He gives significance to each one who trusts in him, He helps even the weakest, & vilest of sinners.
Here is one more passage from Isaiah:
Isaiah 43:1-7
1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. 6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Friends, if Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then God says of you.
“I created you
Fear not
I redeemed you
I am with you
I will protect you
You are precious in my sight
I will gather you (my people) from every corner of the earth.
I have called you by my name” (that is I have claimed you as my own)
In what ways do these words encourage you to entrust your life to God?
How might you encourage someone else with these words?
Grace and Peace,
Matt
Comments