Fear and Holding Hands

O. T. #1635 "Fear and Holding Hands"
Feb. 25, 2020
Isaiah 41-Part 4

LET IT GLOW

What is your biggest fear today? Do you desire freedom from fear today? Read on friend, to find it.

We know the Israelites were chosen by God to represent Him to the rest of the world, and that they failed. God punished them by sending them into captivity. However, He had a remnant that did not bow to idols. We will study about them later on-Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, 3 Hebrew boys, many minor prophets, and thousands of others.

Don't you know there were some people who were fearful and dismayed about the gloom that Isaiah prophesied for them? Wouldn't they fear their enemies, the Babylonian Empire? What about us-are we fearful about our future, our children's future?
In verses 10-14, we find some encouragement God gave to them and to us today.

Fear means dread; be afraid; reverence. Now, the first two can be applied to people and circumstances, and the last one to God.

Dismayed refers to gaze at or about; inspect; consider; turn; depart. If we dread some event or happening, then we are looking at it too much; we are giving it too much consideration. I causes us to turn away for our comfort and strength-Jesus Christ. We surely don't want something to cause us to depart from our God, loosing faith.

God sees into our troubled heart and understands what we are going through. In our time of need, how is He there for us?

• When we are afraid, God is with us.
• When we are discouraged and dreadful, He is our God.
• God is ready and able to strengthen and help us.
• He will uphold us with His righteous right hand.

So we should not be weak as water, nor our hearts melt like wax. God will give us grace, peace, strength, and help. He is faithful and trustworthy, able to protect us, meet our needs, fight our battles. It is His almighty power, by His Son, with His right hand, and strength in abundance that God preserves us thought our trials and temptations.

Will we reach out and take His righteous right hand? Will we drink from His fountain of living water?  Will we experience God's presence right now? Surrender, dear one, to Jesus's reign as Master over you. Acknowledge our fears to Him. He does not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Did you know fear is mentioned more than 300 times in the Bible and 35 times in Isaiah? It is found 3 times in this chapter alone. Recon God knew us folks fear a lot?


LET IT GROW

Since we can read the rest of the story, we know that Assyria and Babylon vanished:

• God tells Judah that their angry enemies will lie there, confused and humiliated. (verse 11a)
• They will look for those enemies who conquered them and attacked them, but will not be found. (verses 11b-12)
• For I hold you by your right hand-I, the LORD your God. (verse 13)

There we have it. Take God's righteous right hand and let Him hold your right hand.
Whose hand will we hold today?
After 47 years of marriage, I still find comfort and strength in holding my husband's hand. So it should be with my Strong, Comforting, Loving God.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.
 (Psalm 37:23-24)

LET IT GO
I run to You, God.
Hold my hand so I don't fall.