“Do
Not Fear, For I Have Redeemed You”
But now, this is what the Lord says—he
who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do
not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you
pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you
pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When
you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the
flames will not set you ablaze. For I am
the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt
for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since
you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in
exchange for you, nations in exchange for
your life. Do not be afraid, for I am
with you; I will bring your children from the east and
gather you from the west. I will say to
the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do
not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone
who is called by my name, whom I created for my
glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah
43:1-7
The movie The Free State of Jones
tells the US Civil War story of Newton Knight and some Confederate deserters
and slaves who aided the Union Army and then resisted slaveholders after the
war. Many herald Knight as the hero, but two slaves first saved his life
after his desertion. They carried him deep into a secluded swampland and
tended a leg wound he suffered while fleeing Confederate forces. If they’d abandoned him, he would have died.
The people of Judah were wounded and
desperate, facing enemies and feeling helpless. Israel had been overtaken by
Assyria, and Isaiah prophesied that one day they (Judah) would also be overcome
by an enemy—Babylonia. Judah needed a God who would help, who would rescue and
not forsake them. Imagine, then, the surging hope when the people heard God’s
assurance: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you” (Isaiah 43:5). Whatever calamity they faced
or trouble they would endure, He would be with them. He would “pass through
the waters” with them, leading them to safety (v. 2). He would “walk through
the fire” with them, helping them through the scorching flames (v. 2).
Throughout Scripture, God promises
to be with His people, to care for us, guide us, and never abandon us—whether
in life or death. Even when you find yourself in difficult places, God is with
you. He’ll help you pass through the waters.
What
deep waters are you facing? How does God’s promise to pass through them with
you strengthen your heart today?
God, the
water is deep, and I don’t see how I’m going to make
it through. Thank You for promising to be with me and to carry me through!
Our
Daily Bread – April 26, 2020