No Fear!

No Fear!

For I the Lord your God keep hold of your right hand; [I am the Lord], Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ Isaiah 41:13 AMP

The Context and Focus:

In order to fully appreciate the value of the words of the Lord in the verse above, let us consider the lot of Israel and Judah at this time. The nation of Israel was chosen by God as His treasured possession, and he had given then rules of engagement. He had shown them what He wanted, and also provided guidance every step of the way, but Israel would not listen or heed. Like a very stubborn heifer, as God described his people sometimes, they would go into sin, they will get punished, they will cry to God for help and deliverance, and when he had saved them from their enemies, they would go back into sin, and this cycle was repeated over and over again. It is clear that God has no favourites when it comes to sin. He will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. However, as we also know God, even when he punishes according to His laid down rules, His love also seeks to shine through, so that man can repent and return to Him. 

The Message:

This is the focus of the verse above. God's love is such that even when he knows I will do wrong, He will not relent in showing love. His door is always open to me to walk though and receive His gift of grace for the journey he has called me to. I must also note that just as the door remains open for me to walk in and take hold of his promises, so does the door remain open for me to walk out, if i so desire. His offer, as laid out in today's verse, is that He wants to hold me by my right hand, which means he wants to direct, lead, guide and help me, but I have to willingly put my life in His hands. God, as undoubtedly mighty as He is, will not go against the exercise of my freewill. It is a decision I am solely responsible for, because God will supply all I need to know the right decision, but taking it becomes the key to life or death. He holds my right hand, because he knows that I can make mistakes or miss my step, but if He is holding me by the hand, I will not fall beyond help. 

The Conclusion:

He is strong, and nothing can be snatched out of His hand, unless I choose to walk away of my own accord. He will not only take me by the hand, but He will also speak into my life, dealing with fear. Man is prone to fear, because he cannot control the present or affect the future beyond that which he knows. However, God is the One who owns and holds the future, and he speaks to me ahead of all the trials and tough times that will come. He tells me that He has got my back, and I have no need to fear. He is my God, that is, if I have truly surrendered to Him. He is Lord of all, but he can only extend the grace and demands of Lordship over all who have come to trust in and depend on Him. I cannot fear, because He is in me. As He is in me, nothing else can come in except that which He allows. His help is available, because He is also the Help of Israel. Whatever the need of the generation, or the peculiar problems I may face, God is the answer, and He is sufficient for every situation. God's time of favour is here.