Trees and Water in the Desert

O. T. #1636 "Trees and Water in the Desert"
Feb. 26, 2020
Isaiah 41-Part 5
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (verse 14)

LET IT GLOW

Are we learning to not fear? We need not be afraid because God is with us, has a relationship with us, and gives us strength, help, and victory. (verse 10)
As Judah is told to not be afraid, three times in this chapter, so are we. Trust and fear don't go together.

Charles Swindoll wrote in  his devotional book, Five Meaningful Minutes A Day,
"But not to trust Him is to doubt His sovereignty and to question His goodness. In order to trust God we must view our adverse circumstances through eyes of faith, not our senses."

God is trying to encourage Judah, which will be later called Israel after the captivity is over, and the divided kingdom will be as one again. God reminds them that they are frail and need Him.

What are the two names for God in our key verse?
Redeemer means to buy back a relative's property; ransom; and The Holy One of Israel, which are  used 5 more times.

We will recall that Boaz was Ruth's kinsman redeemer and so was God when He freed the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. No price was too great for Him to free His people from bondage. He planned to redeem Judah again after their 70 years in captivity.

As the Lord purchased His people from bondage of Egypt by the blood of the Passover Lamb, He is to do the same from their worldwide exile by the blood of the true Lamb, Jesus Christ, when they turn to Him in faith. (Zech 12:10-13:1) MacArthur

Dear friend, if we are in a bondage of fear, Jesus can set us free. Simply ask.

There is no fear in love. but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. (1 John 4:18)

LET IT GROW

What word does God use to describe Jacob in verse 14?  The answer is worm. The tribe Judah was sons of Jacob, who was also called Israel. One can't get any lower than a worm, can you? They live in darkness under the ground. The exiles would be like worms, a poor and needy people. However, they would have supplies that another, King Cyrus, would give to them, which ultimately comes from God.

What is God promising His children exiles?

• He will not forsake, abandon, them. (verse 17)
• He will open up rivers on high plateaus. (verse 18)
• He will give fountains of waters in the valleys.
• He will fill the desert with pools of water.
• Rivers fed by springs will flow across the dry land.
• He will plant trees in a barren desert. (verse 19)

South of Jerusalem is desert like land. We passed by the clay mountains as we made the trip to the Dead Sea. The people there are using water from the Dead Sea to grow date trees for crops. (I think they are dates, which look like palm trees.) But some day, their using it for irrigation will result in the Dead Sea drying up, our guide informed us. All of this makes it look like an oasis in the desert.

Men will witness the might acts mentioned above. They will acknowledge it to be the handiwork of God, Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel. Have you counted that name which God uses for Himself? The Holy One of Israel is used in verses 14, 16, and 20. Also, I, the God of Israel is mentioned in verse 17 and King of Jacob is found in verse 21.

Not only is God going to be Israel's Redeemer, but also their Provider and King. When Jesus returns again, He will establish His kingdom on earth and He will be its reigning King.

Is Jesus reigning as King of your heart today? He desires to be and rightfully should be.
Are we going to Him as our Master and inquiring what work He has for us to do today for His kingdom? That is why we are hear, dear one-to do God's will.

Let us not be hearers only, but doers of the Word.

LET IT GO
I am a worm. I am a dumb sheep. I am always in need of a Savior and Redeemer.
Jesus, that is who You are.
May I produce fruit as a tree in the desert. Plant me where You want me.
May I share the Living Water with others today, for their soul is thirsty.