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The Futility of Fear, 5

Published June 20, 2014 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: Alfred Hitchcock, fear, fried eggs, Futility of Fear

Encouragement for the Fearful

Isaiah 43:1

Alfred Hitchock was afraid of eggs. We’re not sure how he felt about showers.

“Fear” is a strange thing, and it’s surprising what people fear. Dr. Samuel Johnson, for example, for all his intelligence and philosophy, was very careful to always enter a room right foot first. He was so obsessive about this, if he walked into a room left foot first, he would step back out, then walk back in right foot first. Strange fear, indeed. It was more than just a phobia. Dr. Johnson was also mortally afraid – terrified, really – of death, and he would forbid anybody discussing the topic where he could hear.

The great Julius Caesar, military genius and renowned warrior, was scared to death of thunder and always hid under a table or bed during a thunder storm! Surprising indeed.

One of the greatest motion picture directors of all time, nicknamed “the Master of Suspense,” whose movies kept spellbound audiences on the edge of their seats for decades, was absolutely afraid of eggs, especially eggs with runny yokes. Alfred Hitchcock, the man who made us all afraid of crop dusters, motel showers, birds, Albert Hall, telephones, and Mount Rushmore, was scared of eggs.

Walt Disney, the man who brought us Mickey Mouse, had an uncontrollable fear of – you guessed it – mice.

Hans Christian Andersen was fearful of being buried alive, so much so that he kept a sign hanging over his bed declaring that he wasn’t really dead, he just looked that way.

Bela Lugosi, who sky-rocketed to fame in the early 1930‘s as Dracula, was deathly afraid of blood. Interestingly enough, so was Bram Stoker, author of Dracula.

Peter the Great would sob and shake uncontrollably when crossing a bride, so fearful of bridges was he.

Yes, there is no shortage of things to be afraid of. The number “13“ frightens some people. Who knows why? It’s a number. Other people are afraid of black cats or of walking under ladder. Of course, these are superstitious fears, but fears nonetheless with no foundation in fact. In truth, most fears, superstitious or not, have no basis in fact. Sensible, right thinking people, should chase these irrational, ridiculous fears out of their lives, especially Christians. To these, the Lord has an encouraging word:

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (Isaiah 43:1 KJV)

Faith, not fear!

Fear is a serious issue even though we chuckle when we hear about Hitch’s fear of runny yokes. This is because fear is the opposite of faith. Christians are called to be faithful, not fearful. To restate it another way: Christians are called to be fearless. This doesn’t mean Christians are to live reckless lives in dangerous ways, but it does mean we don’t give credence to irrational fears. They may float into your head from time to time as random thoughts are want to do, but your faith in God should broom them out quickly.

You may have had the strange experience where a free floating fear took hold of your mind out of the blue, and all of a sudden a sense of dread covered you from head to toe. Fears of impending disaster or of coming sorrows or of some unnameable fear took root in your head for no apparent reason. Most of us have had that unwelcome experience, and if we dwell on those free floating fears too long and take them seriously, pretty soon we’re depressed, frustrated, and anxious.

Ever wonder where those crazy thoughts come from? Jesus gives us a clue:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV11)

Living a full, abundant life means living a fearless life, and that’s just not possible if fear is in control of your mind. The thief – Satan – is determined to make your life miserable, and his best tool is controlling your mind.

But God is gracious, and He understands how our minds work. That’s why He speaks the phrase: “Fear not” so often in His Word to us. Time and again the Lord speaks those quiet, encouraging words to us. It’s up to us to hear them, mind you, but He’s speaking; He’s reassuring us that He is aware of what’s happening in our minds and our lives, and fear is not really an option.

Context and Comfort

Isaiah 43 and 44 are important chapters in Isaiah’s book of prophecy because they are key in understanding Israel’s future. In spite of what some of our theologians teach, God is most assuredly not finished with Israel by any stretch of the imagination. In Romans, Paul posited the question:

Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1 NIV84)

God is nowhere near done with Israel, and that’s the whole point of this section of Isaiah. In verse 1, for example, God makes some astonishing claims:

But now, this is what the Lord says–he who created you, O Jacob,he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1 NIV84)

God is speaking directly to a disheartened Israel, a nation riddled with fear and doubt. The first thing He wanted them to know is that He created them: “…he who formed you…” God is the one responsible for the creation of Israel. Only God could take a sorry specimen of humanity named Jacob and turn his descendants into a nation. Jacob’s name, if you’ll remember, means “crooked.” What God saw in Jacob is a mystery! But in His providence, the Lord took this crooked man’s progeny and made them into a great nation that no tyrant has been able to exterminate.

God made you, too. He took the dirt you walk on, and breathed life into it and it became a living soul. That first human being didn’t appreciate his origins and soon took his life in his own hands and tried to live his own way and he failed miserably. This is Adam’s beginning, and it is also your beginning.

Surely I was sinful at birth,sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psalms 51:5 NIV84)

David wrote that about himself, but he could just as easily have written it about you. We’re all born sinners because we possess an evil legacy. We’re no better than Adam. We have his sinful, rebellious nature and there’s not a thing we can do about our dreadfully lost condition.

But now, God makes sons of God out of people like you; people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. God recreates those who trust in Him. So you see, God is still in the creation business!

Starting with crooked old Jacob, God created a special nation, Israel. But, like Adam, Israel became a rebellious nation and got themselves into trouble. And so God, as He said through the prophet Isaiah, redeemed them; that is, He bought them back from their troubles. He redeemed them from Egypt and put them in their own land and they truly became a nation with a homeland. They belong to Him because He made them and He purchased them.

Jesus Christ, God’s only Son did the very same thing for sinners. He literally purchased us – bought us – from our empty, sinful lives by His very blood.

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12 NIV84)

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18, 19 NIV84)

Isn’t it amazing? What God told Israel He would do for them, He also fulfilled in us, the Church. Of course, there are some very specific promises only for the nation of Israel, but there are definite parallels in the ideas of our special creation and redemption. This we share with God’s people. But we also share something else: deliverance.

Divine deliverance

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. (Isaiah 43:2-3 NIV84)

In these verses, our Lord gently reminds Israel of how He delivered them out of the land of Egypt. God did this for Israel; He did not do it for you. And yet, these verses do apply to Christians. Think about this:

Deliverance from Death

These verses in Isaiah 43 are most often read at funerals, and for good reason. Fear of death is the one fear most human beings have in common. Death is certain, no matter what kind of food you eat, how much you exercise, how many vitamins you swallow, or how positively you think about things! Nobody can avoid death, but for the Christian, fear should not be attached to the idea of departing this world.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 (NIV84)

Deliverance from Bondage

Israel was delivered from their awful Egyptian bondage. It wasn’t just the hard work God saved them from; He set them free! The Hebrews were never meant to be living in Egypt on a permanent basis. God had something better for them – a land flowing with milk and honey. They needed to be set free so that they could experience God’s will to the fullest.

Christian, you may feel like the Hebrews did in Egypt. You may feel like God has something better in store for you; you are saved, and yet in your heart of hearts, you know there’s something God wants you to do – a life He wants you to live. If you’re not at the moment, this could be form of bondage to you, but God will lead you out of it into that “abundant life” the Bible talks about, if you’d let Him.

You may be serving the Lord today but are discouraged because there is sin in your life that you just can’t seem to get a handle on. That’s a very real bondage that God can deliver you out of, if you’d let Him! God is still in the deliverance business just as surely as He is in the recreation business!

Deliverance from penury

When the Hebrews left Egypt, they carried off the wealth of that nation with them, as the Lord told them to! God provided for them in astonishing ways. God provides for you, too. Without Christ in our lives, we were spiritually bankrupt with no prospects and no opportunities in sight. But God came in and met our needs, gave us hope and confidence, and opened doors. Part of redemption is provision, spiritual and otherwise.

That’s a real fear many people have; fear of want or of need. Fear of poverty and of lack. God cares for the whole you; the immaterial you and the material you.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV84)

There are all kinds of fears floating around us. Some could be helpful; they keep us from walking into oncoming traffic or from getting too close to the edge. But most fears are truly futile – a waste of time because they are either irrational, have no basis in reality, or they have already been addressed and dealt with by God on the Cross of His only Son. Why fear when you don’t have to?

Futility of Fear, 3

Published June 4, 2014 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: fear, Futility of Fear, God's desire, What God Wants

WHAT GOD WANTS

Isaiah 43

Israel, the LORD who created you says, “Do not be afraid—I will save you.I have called you by name—you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 GNTCE)

The work of Christ on the Cross was for everybody. Now, it’s true that not everybody will benefit for His work – that pesky free will comes into play here – but without regard to our Calvinist friends and our Arminian friends, the Bible clearly indicates that Jesus died for the sins of all sinners. Here is just a sampling of Bible verses that teach this wonderful fact:

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. (John 3:16 GNTCE)

This is good and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4 GNTCE)

But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so that through God’s grace he should die for everyone. We see him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered. (Hebrews 2:9 GNTCE)

And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone. (1 John 2:2 GNTCE)

There will be suffering and pain for all those who do what is evil, for the Jews first and also for the Gentiles. But God will give glory, honor, and peace to all who do what is good, to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles. (Romans 2:9-10 GNTCE)

There are many, many more verses throughout both Testaments that teach that our Lord died for the sins of all sinners, bar none. We’ll leave the debate on election and predestination to the theological eggheads and stick to the Biblical text.

The fact that our Lord’s work was done on behalf of all sinners and may benefit “all who call upon His name” ought to be a comfort to all sinners, everywhere. Yet there are those who, for whatever reason, feel as though they are beyond help; beyond redemption. There are some who think they are so bad – or the life they lived so heinous – that God wouldn’t waste His time saving them.

Is this possible? Are there sinners that God wouldn’t waste the time or effort in saving? Is a lost soul correct in thinking that there may be salvation for some, but not for him? The answer lies in something Isaiah said to his people:

Israel, the LORD who created you says, “Do not be afraid—I will save you.I have called you by name—you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 GNTCE)

One old-time Bible scholar remarked concerning this verse:

The more one ponders over this “fear not,” the more pregnant it seems with meaning.

He lives, “I have found you…”

God was addressing His people, Israel, but the stunning thing about this verse is the very first thing God says: “I have found you.” God was using the personal pronoun: He does exist; He is real and He is alive! A “nebulous nothing” or a cold, impersonal force doesn’t say, “I.” Israel at the time they may have read what Isaiah wrote here, was dispersed, discouraged, and depressed. They needed not only to hear the encouraging message, but they needed to know it was God Himself addressing the PERSONALLY!

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, also speaks personally to all who would hear Him – those with ears to hear:

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me. (John 10:27-28 GNTCE)

Jesus Christ, the God-Man who died for the sins of all men, speaks to us today, and we will hear Him if we are listening to Him. That’s the thing about our Lord: He never forces Himself on anybody. Granted, He works tirelessly in the background calling sinners into a relationship with Himself:

When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” (John 12:32 GNTCE)

There’s that word again: everyone. Our Lord’s call goes out to everyone, but not everyone is listening; not everyone will hear. Only some; only some will hear and respond.

God exists, Jesus is alive, and the Holy Spirit is working in the world today; working on the hearts of sinners, calling them to salvation. He’s also speaking to your heart today, if you are a believer:

God’s Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16 GNTCE)

He is near, Hebrews 3:15

This is what the scripture says: “If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God.” (Hebrews 3:15 GNTCE)

So, God is real and God is alive. God is calling to sinners to Himself; some will respond but many will not. And He speaks to believers all the time. God is speaking to His children. God spoke to the Israelites constantly – through His prophets and His Word. When they paid attention and listened, they prospered. When they didn’t – when they were “stubborn” – they were in a state of rebellion against God and suffered the consequences.

When a sinner refuses to listen to the call of God, he remains a sinner and is lost. When a believer stubbornly refuses to listen to God’s voice, he is, whether he realizes it or not or whether he intended it or not, in rebellion against God! Is that the act of a sane person? Would somebody in their right mind go against the God who pursued them, called them, and died for them? We may excuse the hard-hearted sinner who has never experienced God, but what excuse does a child of God have?

God is near; He speaks, He doesn’t shout or yell or shriek. He simply speaks.

“Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,the one I love, and with whom I am pleased.I will send my Spirit upon him, and he will announce my judgment to the nations. He will not argue or shout, or make loud speeches in the streets.” (Matthew 12:18c-19 GNTCE)

Yes, Jesus is near and He is still speaking, still pursuing saint and sinner alike.

He Knows me, Psalm 139

LORD, you have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts. (Psalms 139:1-2 GNTCE)

Psalm 139 could be the most theological psalm ever. Read it and you will learn about three of God’s attributes: His omniscience (all knowing); His omnipresence (everywhere, all the time); and His omnipotence (all powerful).

The first few verses of this marvelous psalm speak about the undeniable fact that God knows YOU. God is the great Heavenly psychologist. No problem is beyond His understanding. There is no solution to a problem that God cannot provide to one He knows and loves.

The thing about God’s knowledge is that it is perfect. God knows the words you will say before you do. In fact, God not only knows your words but He knows the thoughts and intents behind those words. He knows your secret thoughts. Does that frighten you? Maybe it should, if you think you are keeping thoughts from Him.

You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power. (Psalms 139:5 GNTCE)

In the Hebrew, the first part of that verse means that the psalmist saw himself “hemmed in” by God. Moffatt translates it like this:

Thou art on every side, behind me and before, laying thy hand on me.

Indeed. That’s how it is with all believers. By virtue of His Son, we warrant God’s care and concern. Do you know what that means? God knows the real you. He knows your heart. He knows your weaknesses. When you stumble along the way, God still loves you; He is still on your side. He will always comes down in your favor, if you love Him and are loyal to Him. When God looks at you, He sees His Son!

You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb. (Psalms 139:13 (GNTCE)

Think about what that means. God made all people, and therefore He has a plan and a purpose for all people. But only a believer may fulfill God’s good purpose. This is something that cuts both ways. For you, if you are a believer, God’s purpose is a wonderful blessing, both for you and others. Your purpose includes, ultimately, a place in Heaven with Him. But for the unbeliever, God’s purpose is eternal separation from Him.

I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful.I know it with all my heart. (Psalms 139:14 GNTCE)

The psalmist is obviously a believer; he is obviously close to God. Knowing how well God knows him and how much He is concerned with him, the psalmist responds in the only appropriate way: praise. That should be our response, too. We see God everywhere; we experience His grace all the time. But the believer should know something else: he was made by God. Deep down inside, a believer knows how special he is. He is unique in all the universe. He was personally put together by God.

He longs for you, Isaiah 43:4

I will give up whole nations to save your life,because you are precious to me and because I love you and give you honor. (Isaiah 43:4 GNTCE)

Of course, God is speaking to Israel through His prophet. But remember, God’s Word is eternal and there is an application of every passage. God calls us all by name, too; He knows us all as well as He knew Israel. Think about this:

As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted. (Matthew 10:30 GNTCE)

He longs for you so much, He knows every detail about you, even the number of hairs you have on your head. He calls you by name. He pursued you and continues to walk with you. He wants to be your friend. He desires to become your chief advisor. He has plans for you and you belong to Him.

“They are my own people, and I created them to bring me glory.” (Isaiah 43:7 GNTCE)

“They,” “my own,” and “I created them” all point to one inescapable conclusion: God has a vested interest in His people. In fact, we could go even farther and say that if you are a Christian, then you belong to Him! Don’t believe it? Here is the apostle Paul said about this very topic:

Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves but to God; he bought you for a price. So use your bodies for God’s glory. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 GNTCE)

What’s true for Israel is NOT always true for the Church, but in this case it is. We who are part of the Body of Christ belong in totality to God. He bought us. He owns us. And yet, in spite of that very fact, some Christians stubbornly refuse to live in fellowship with Him. So His longing goes on. God called you, sought you out, He pursued you, He saved you, and He has taken up residence in you. What more evidence of His love for you do you need? Who wouldn’t want to have fellowship with a God that did all that for them?

What does God want? He wants sinners saved and He wants to be in fellowship with His children.

The Futility of Fear, 2

Published May 30, 2014 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: anxiety, fear, fear not, The Futility of Fear

Help Is On the Way!

Isaiah 35:2

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. (Isaiah 35:4 KJV)

Anybody with a car can appreciate this “fear not.” No, they didn’t have cars in Isaiah’s day and cars have nothing to do with the context of this, our second “Fear Not.” If you’ve ever run out of gas or gotten a flat tire miles from home, you know what it feels like when a friendly, helpful person stops to offer you a hand, and thanks to their intervention, you were on your way. Even in our rushed, paranoid, cold world, there are people who don’t mind helping others, and we who have been the beneficiaries of their generosity are thankful.

We’ll look at the context of Isaiah 35 in a moment, but let your eyes take in verse 2. Can you appreciate what’s being said in it? There was no need for Isaiah’s people to be fearful. On the contrary, they could be strong and courageous because God was on their side. It was just a matter of time before He would arrive with help enough to save them.

We often grow impatient with our Lord when the rough times persist. We wonder how He can let us suffer for so long if He loves us so much. Even though these ancient words were intended for other ears, we can learn something very important that will make our lives a little easier.

A look at context

A promise for the future

This is a prophecy of the future – the far future. Isaiah paints a beautiful picture of a wonderful future for the righteous in “the day of The Lord.” That Old Testament phrase refers to two aspects of the future; a time of both judgment and salvation. For the righteous, the people of God, there will ultimately be salvation. Isaiah used his considerable talents to encourage a discouraged people by assuring them that one day God’s people would return to their city; that they would be happy and redeemed. God hadn’t abandoned them nor had He forgotten them.

Even the wilderness and desert will rejoice in those days; the desert will blossom with flowers. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the Lebanon mountains, as lovely as Mount Carmel’s pastures and Sharon’s meadows; for the Lord will display his glory there, the excellency of our God. (Isaiah 35:1, 2 TLB)

Naturally this is poetry. The Greeks wrote about “the music of the spheres” and in Job, this is how God described the creation of the world:

What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38:6, 7 TLB)

Yes, the glory of the Lord causes both man and his environment to rejoice and to sing His praises. Nothing else; no one else is capable of doing this. The knowledge and the presence of God is what causes all creation to experience joy. It’s unfortunate that so many Christians seem to miss out on this joy. For believers, the source of our joy is in God, yet how much time and energy – not to mention money – do we expend looking for it elsewhere? We are a restless people; always looking for something we already possess!

Hope for the present

With this news bring cheer to all discouraged ones. Encourage those who are afraid. Tell them, “Be strong, fear not, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” (Isaiah 35:3, 4 TLB)

This chapter in Isaiah was written with a very discouraged people in mind. God’s people reading this were strangers in a strange land; dispersed all over the Babylonian Empire. Some were facing the long trek back to Jerusalem, which was in rubble.

This was the reality. Yes, the future looked wonderful but what about the present? How would God’s people deal with the present misery and fear that had gripped the hearts of so many? Fear is a debilitating affliction. It can manifest itself all over the body:

And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. The lame man will leap up like a deer, and those who could not speak will shout and sing! (Isaiah 35:5, 6 TLB)

Everybody’s “real life” falls far short of what Heaven will be like. Sometimes “real life” obscures God’s promises of our future. We are not so far removed from these ancient Israelites. Their problems aren’t ours, but what God promised Israel applies to believers in any age and in any location! The sense of Isaiah’s words is this: How can Israel fear since the Lord is near and will defend them and fight for them? That’s a message for any Christian facing any difficulties: get your eyes on the eternal, almighty Sovereign of the Universe! Imagine that! He is on YOUR side! As one Bible scholar put it:

Vengeance is His prerogative. Recompense is His retribution. Salvation is His deliverance!

He saved Israel; He will save you, too. It doesn’t matter what your “enemy” may be, God is more than able to deal with it. Your enemy could be your health, your finances, your emotions, your job, maybe your mind. God will cause you to be the overcomer you are promised to be.

What deliverance looks like

The beauty and value of these verses is that they show us what Biblical deliverance looks like. Throughout Isaiah’s big book of prophecy, we read a lot about spiritual blindness and deafness and the promise that one day, our “spiritual” infirmities will be healed. That in itself will be a monumental day. Can you imagine seeing God clearly; unfiltered by the filth and pollution of our sinful world? Or how about hearing God’s voice with crystal clarity without having to block out all those other voices? That will be a great day! Deliverance looks like that. The great thing about God’s deliverance is that no child of God has to wait until he’s physically dead, or until the Lord returns to experience it! Right now, in our sin-cursed world, all saints of God are able to experience at least glimpses of our ultimate spiritual deliverance. And that itself is cause for cheer!

But the New Testament alludes to what Isaiah wrote here and takes it literally.

The two disciples found Jesus while he was curing many sick people of their various diseases—healing the lame and the blind and casting out evil spirits. When they asked him John’s question, this was his reply: “Go back to John and tell him all you have seen and heard here today: how those who were blind can see. The lame are walking without a limp. The lepers are completely healed. The deaf can hear again. The dead come back to life. And the poor are hearing the Good News. And tell him, ‘Blessed is the one who does not lose his faith in me.’ ” (Luke 7:22 – 23 TLB)

John the Baptist was in prison and was losing heart. Freedom for him, John knew, was a thing of the past. In a moment of doubt he wondered if the Man he heralded as the Messiah really was or not. Jesus got word back to Him that he was right: Jesus was truly the Messiah and the Kingdom had come. Evidence of that fact was all the physical healings and spiritual ones. But note the last sentence:

Blessed is the one who does not lose his faith in me.

Jesus knows it’s not easy holding onto your faith and that’s why there is special blessing reserved for those who don’t lose it. Some of you reading this may be feeling like John the Baptist did while he was sitting in his prison cell. Your prison may not be a literal one, but perhaps your faith is waning; things you used to believe you now wonder about as real life has beat you down with one defeat after another. God’s Word to you is a simple one: HOLD ON! Keep your faith. Help is on the way!

God makes a way

Isaiah 35:8 is the a jewel; a focal point of the the whole chapter. Translated from the Greek version of the Old Testament, it looks like this:

There shall be a clean way and it shall be called a holy way, and there shall by no means pass over there anything unclean, neither shall be there an unclean way. But the dispersed ones shall proceed upon it, and they shall in no wise be deceived [caused to err].

Remember, Isaiah 35 is a prophecy about the future of Israel. They are the dispersed ones; they are the ones scattered all over, miles from home. Essentially Isaiah’s message was for the Babylonian exiles; the ones who would be making the long trip back home to Jerusalem to resettle it and rebuild it. But it’s also a far reaching message to the Jews of our future; the ones who, at the Second Coming, will stream back to Jerusalem.

This “clean way” or Holy Highway, will be the route home for the homeless. It’s a wonderful picture of how the Lord makes a way for His people. Those believers walking along the Lord’s highway will be safe and secure and surrounded by people of like faith.

But how does this apply to us, today? Today, we believers belong to the Body of Christ. We are able to surround ourselves with other redeemed people who believe what we do. We can belong to a local church and be involved in a local congregation as we walk through our lives. No Christian needs to feel isolated or alone! God established His church for many reasons, and this is one of them.

Back to Isaiah’s Holy Highway for a moment, Naegelsbach wrote:

The Lord built it and destined it to lead to His house. It is a pilgrim way. Hence nothing unclean, neither unclean person or thing, may come up on it. Whoever goes on it is a sanctified one, under God’s protection and care.

The message for believers today

These verses were were not written to us. They were written to a specific group of Jews about a situation specific to them. Be that as it may, the Holy Spirit thought they were important enough to include them in the canon of Scripture for us to read. Why? Why do we, Christians in the 21st century, need to pay attention to promises made to people long dead?

Scripture may only have one meaning or interpretation, but there may also be many applications. Isaiah’s message to his people is also a message to the downtrodden and oppressed; to people struggling because they have been wronged and experienced injustice. To those, God’s promise is clear: Vengeance is the His. Justice will be meted out. The broken hearted will be healed and restored.

It’s also a word to all those who see the wrong and the sin all around them and are appalled and frustrated that sinners seem to prosper and that the truth appears to be smothered. It’s easy to become cold and cynical when wrong prevails and right seems lost. But God’s Word is to hang on; God sees what’s happening and help is on the way. God will come and He will make things right.

We can all take heart and be encouraged because in spite of the present, the future is well worth waiting for.

...all sorrow and all sighing will be gone forever; only joy and gladness will be there. (Isaiah 35:10b TLB)

The Futility of Fear, 1

Published May 22, 2014 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: anxiety, fear, Futility of Fear, future

Don’t Fear the Future

Isaiah 41:13

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ (NKJV)

Fear is a big problem today. America, once “home of the brave,” has become “home of the fearful.” We fear everything these days. We’re afraid of living; we’re afraid of dying. We’re afraid of warm weather; we’re afraid of cold weather. We’re afraid of driving our cars; we’re afraid of riding our bikes. We’re afraid of eating too much; we’re afraid of eating too little. Honestly, we have become a nation in desperate need to getting a grip!

The Bible has a lot to say about fear and the need to “fear not.” It’s important for Christians to understand that the opposite of fear is faith. We are called to have faith, not fear. Fear not only robs us of joy and the anticipation of all that life has to offer, it’s also a sin; it shows that in spite of what we may say, when the rubber hits the road, we just don’t trust the Lord.

Let’s take a look at our very first “fear not” and discover that as far as the future is concerned, God’s got it all under control.

The setting

Our “fear not” occurs in verse 13, but verse 13 doesn’t occur in a vacuum. We need to establish the context—what was going on that necessitated God telling His people not to fear.

In chapter 41, God’s attention is on the idolatrous nations surrounding Israel.

“Keep silence before Me, O coastlands, and let the people renew their strength! Let them come near, then let them speak; let us come near together for judgment.” (Isaiah 41:1 NKJV)

That’s quite a contrast with the last verse of chapter 40:

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

The promise of renewed strength was for the people of God, and the nations surrounding them were warned to leave His people alone; to let them rest and get strong once again. It’s helpful to remember that this prophecy has to do primarily with the deliverance of Israel from Babylon. Even though this whole address was to the nations, the message was really intended for Israel to hear. God wanted to encourage His discouraged people; they needed to know that He had not abandoned them and that He would renew their strength. The gods of all those heathen nations were impotent.

A human deliverer, 2—4

“Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet? Who gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? Who gave them as the dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow? Who pursued them, and passed safely by the way that he had not gone with his feet? Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last I am He.’ ” (NKJV)

The Lord, the Righteous Judge in the courtroom of the universe, directs the attention of all these heathen nations (and the attention of Israel) to Himself, as the great Sovereign of this world and the Author of its history.

The identity of this “one from the east” is unknown. Some have thought God is referring to Abraham, but that seems unlikely. More likely, God is actually referring to Cyrus, one whom God would raise up to fulfill His purpose for His people. Here we see the absolute sovereignty of God in action. Cyrus would be God’s instrument of deliverance. God would choose His deliverer. Cyrus was the right man at the right time and it was by God’s design. He may not have been the man the Jews would have chosen, but he was born for this purpose: to deliver God’s people from their Babylonian captivity.

Verse 4 is a statement of God’s sovereignty over history. From the beginning of time, God is the One behind the ebb and flow of the history of the nations of our world. Earthly kings, prime ministers, and presidents only think they are in control. It is really God calling the shots.

What is true of the world is true of your life. If God can keep this world on course, do you think He’s incapable of managing the comparatively puny affairs of your life?

The arrogance of man, verses 5—7

The coastlands saw it and feared, the ends of the earth were afraid; they drew near and came. Everyone helped his neighbor, and said to his brother, “Be of good courage!” So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; he who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, saying, “It is ready for the soldering”; then he fastened it with pegs, that it might not totter.

All these nations were aware of Cyrus; they could see his armies on the move. The “coastlands” were afraid of him. All these nations were coming together in fear and turning to their idols for strength. Perhaps they were making a new idol to deal with Cyrus. In their superstition, they met together—all the scientists and political leaders and religious leaders and came to a consensus, honestly thinking they could stop God from accomplishing His will for His people. And in a deft touch of irony, the idol had to be nailed together so as not to fall over. The twilight of the gods had come! In an atmosphere of panic, these arrogant, thoughtless nations discovered Dutch courage. They had deluded themselves into thinking another god—or more gods—could save them. But that kind of thinking is just plain vanity.

Indeed they are all worthless; their works are nothing; their molded images are wind and confusion. (Isaiah 41:29 NKJV)

Hope for the future, grounded in the past, verses 8—10

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham my friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” (NKJV)

During Cyrus’ day, the Jews were living and many were prospering in Babylon. It wasn’t home, but many had built lives and were doing well. But now, Cyrus’ Babylon is being threatened by outside forces. In time, Cyrus would fall, as all political leaders do. The fear the surrounding nations felt for Cyrus was creeping through Babylon. The exiles, far from home for decades, were now facing the possibility that they would lose their homes in Babylon. Fear and uncertainty were on the rise. God reassured them that their future was in His hand, and He did this by pointing to the past.

In spite of its present exile, the election of Israel through Abraham guaranteed that Israel would prevail no matter what was happening or would happen. God chose Israel for a purpose and that purpose had nothing to do with being lost forever in exile! God chose Israel and set Israel apart from all the nations on earth to serve Him, and that’s why they would have a future.

Recall the words of the old song:

He didn’t bring us this far to leave us

He didn’t teach us to swim to let us drown

He didn’t build His home in us to move away

He didn’t lift us up to let us down.

There are some promises in a letter

Written a long, long time ago

They’re not getting older, they’re getting better

Because He still wants us to know.

I read those promises in His letter

And now I claim them for my own

Filling my heart and making life better

And I just wanted you to know.

As Christians, we are not Israel. Their future is not ours. But, like Israel, we have been called and set apart and God has a purpose for each one of us. Our future is assured because, like Israel, we have a job to do and a purpose to fulfill. God didn’t save us to just let us struggle in fear. God didn’t call us to Himself then hide, like He’s playing some kind of game on us!

God is not afar off. Someone put it like this:

No distant God have we,

Who loves afar to be!

Made flesh for me,

He cannot rest until He rests in me!

Seven mercies and blessings of God’s Hand

God holds us close; His grasp on us is firm. What does that mean?

Salvation, Psalm 18:16

He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. (NKJV)

When we read that verse we think about Peter, sinking in the water. He called out to Jesus to save him and our Lord reached down and grabbed his hand. It doesn’t matter what those “many waters” in your life may be, God can and He promises to reach down and pull you up out of them.

Security, John 10:28

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (NKJV)

Nothing can pull us away from Him! He holds us in a vice-like grip. He loves us that much—this is what eternal security means.

Friendship, Isaiah 41:13

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

The “right hand” of friendship. Can you imagine God as your friend? You can stop imagining it, because He is! God is your friend and He won’t let you go. He’s the One you can depend on for all eternity.

Confidence, Hebrews 13:5, 6

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (NKJV

What can a mere man do to a child of God? Now that’s confidence! And, unfortunately, this is what is missing in so many Christian lives. So many of us live in fear because our confidence isn’t in the right person! It must be in God. Imagine what we could accomplish for Him if we weren’t afraid of offending somebody, or of what so-and-so would say, or of not having the right words. The Lord is your helper. You either believe that or you don’t, and if you do, then you’ll live fearlessly.

Assistance, Isaiah 41:14

I will help you,” says the Lord. (NKJV)

God’s hand is extended to help. How can we think of failing in His work if He is helping us?

Strength, Genesis 49:24

…the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob… (AV)

Imagine unlimited strength at your disposal! It’s there; it’s inside of you. God’s presence in you guarantees that you will have the strength to get His job done.

Conclusion

God’s people were scattered throughout a godless empire; they were making the best of it, many of them, but it wasn’t home. Many of these folks felt as though God had abandoned them; that He had forsaken them—or worse, forgotten them. This may be you. Maybe your “rough patch” has turned into way of life. Maybe good times are a dim memory. Worst of all, maybe you’re riddled with fear—fear of the future; fear of the past. God wants you set free from those fears. Fear is a word that should not be a part of any believer’s vocabulary!

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