Scripture

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 

 Observation

The Lord has ransomed Israel. He promises to go with them through floods, fires, difficulty, and oppression.

The Lord exchanged other, greater, nations as a ransom so that He could have Israel.

The Lord will send an army against Babylon. He is the one who parted the sea to let Israel escape from Egypt. 

Now he will do something new. He will create rivers in the desert to refresh his people, Israel. They have not brought sacrifices to the Lord, but He will blot out their sins anyway. 

 Application

Just as the Lord called the nation of Israel by name, so He calls us by name too. He moulded us in our mother’s womb and knows exactly what our lives are meant to be about.

For that reason, we can be confident and trust him. He walks with us through the floods and fires that threaten to consume as. He shows us the way to stand firm in the midst of troubles and oppression.

He doesn’t shelter us from the trials of life. He doesn’t click his fingers to make everything sweet for us. He does promise to walk through these times with us. 

Even when you feel like you are alone, the only one in that situation, God is with you. He will never abandon you.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the knowledge that you are always with us, even when everything seems to be falling apart. Amen. 

Scripture

He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.

Observation

The Lord’s servant, His chosen one, will bring justice to the nations. He will not crush the weakest reed. He will not lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth.

The Lord will give the servant to Israel, and He will be a light for the nations. Everything the Lord has prophesied has come true.

Application

In Isaiah, there are several passages that relate to the servant of the Lord, predictions about the ministry of Jesus.

In this chapter, we are told that he will be gentle, not breaking a weak reed or quenching a spluttering candle.

His ministry is to bring righteousness to the whole earth, even to lands beyond the sea.

That part of Jesus’ ministry has been expanding for 2,000 years, until now where there are Christians in just about every nation in the world.

This is important because everywhere christians live, they bring concepts of law, justice, love, freedom and so on. They literally bring a turnaround in the destiny of nations.

In some parts of the world, christians are persecuted severely for their faith. In places such as North Korea, Nigeria and the like, christians can only influence their circle. In other parts of the world, we have built nations, institutions and cultures on the freedom of the gospel.

Faith is no small thing. It drives history.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the faithfulness of past generations of Christians around the world. Please help me to make a difference in my part of the world. Amen.