Verse of the Day Devotion: Isaiah 41:10
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah here in this verse is speaking to Israel regarding primarily those Jews who were exiled in Babylon, and as stated by theologian Albert Barnes, “during their long and painful captivity in Babylon; and the idea is, that they who had been selected by God to be his special people had nothing to fear.” God, through Isaiah was telling His people not to fear Babylon and what they are doing to them and how they could be affected by them. And why should they not fear? God, through Isaiah, tells them “for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10b.
This is a wonderful promise God gave to His people, the Jewish nation. However now we, as Christians, are His people. Paul said it this way. “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. The highlighted phrase comes from Leviticus where He tells the Israelites, “I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Leviticus 26:12. So, God’s people are those who believe in the Christ as the Messiah and have accepted Him as their Lord and God. These include both Jews and Gentiles. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16. So, our focus verse applies to all people, both Jews and Gentiles who are Christians.
So, let us see this promise in relation to out time today. There is no need for us to be afraid no matter what comes our way. We should not fear anything because God is our strength and He will always help us. Whether is be an illness such as Corona Virus or Flu or any type of sickness. He can protect us and heal us from any sickness. Therefore, we should place our trust in Him no matter what illness comes our way. “and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.” James 5:15. If we are in need of anything, no matter what it is, God will provide it. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
Closing, we must not let anything that happens to us make us afraid. We know that there is nothing that God cannot do for He can do all things. If we are sick He can heal us. If we are hungry He can provide us food. If we are thirsty He can provide us drink. He will never leave us of forsake us. And remember what Jesus said to us. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or What will we wear for clothing? For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34. And even if He is ready to call us home, He has a tremendous promise as well given through Paul, where he said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21. Therefore, do not be afraid of anything, for as I like to say, God has this. He is in control and He wants the absolute best for us. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.