God’s people can depend on God’s presence
Daily Scripture
Isaiah 43:1-7
1 But now, says the LORD—
the one who created you, Jacob,
the one who formed you, Israel:
Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched
and flame won’t burn you.
3 I am the LORD your God,
the holy one of Israel, your savior.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
4 Because you are precious in my eyes,
you are honored, and I love you.
I give people in your place,
and nations in exchange for your life.
5 Don’t fear,
I am with you.
From the east I’ll bring your children;
from the west I’ll gather you.
6 I’ll say to the north, “Give them back!”
and to the south, “Don’t detain them.”
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
7 everyone who is called by my name
and whom I created for my glory,
whom I have formed and made.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Leaving Egypt for freedom in the violent ancient Middle East, Israel called God the source of salvation (cf. Exodus 15:1-3). They saw it mainly as military/political freedom. When the Persian Empire freed Israel from decades in exile, the prophet most mainline scholars call “Second Isaiah” again called God savior. Now the key message was spiritual: God held to his side of their covenant despite their failures. * This deeper grasp of God’s presence, not just God’s power, shaped how God’s people faced hardship.
- Today’s reading (from Second Isaiah, which started at Isaiah 40:1) spoke first to Israelites returning from exile in Babylon. It emphasized God’s personal bond with God’s people— “I will be with you…. I love you.” It did not promise an easy, pain-free life, but pledged that whatever happened, God’s people could depend on God’s presence. How could such a passage speak to people recovering from a long time of exile? How does it speak to you today?
- The Israelites saw empires rise and fall—Egypt, Persia, Rome. But at their best they placed their ultimate trust in God rather than these seemingly invincible powers. When you face uncertainty today, what “empires” (whether political movements, financial security, or cultural trends) compete for the trust that belongs to God alone (cf. Psalm 2)? How does God’s salvation work differently than human political or military power?
Prayer
Lord God, I see signs of your saving power in history, even though so many human rulers missed seeing you. And I see your saving power at work in my life, too. I claim you as my savior. Amen.
GPS Insights
Melanie Hill
Melanie Hill, who serves as the Director of Operations at Resurrection's West location, wrote today’s Insights--but wrote it in 2017, when she was a member of the Adult Discipleship team. She is a Navy mom and mom of three teen daughters, a wife of 24 years, and an avid fan of nachos.
I suffer from Ophidiophobia–the abnormal fear of snakes. Although is it really “abnormal” to fear something that could kill you?
I have never liked snakes. It might have started when I was a kid and my little brother used to think it was hilarious to sneak his rubber snakes into my room and hide them under my pillow before bedtime. Maybe it started when I saw the mason jar my friend’s parents kept in the kitchen filled to the brim with rattlesnake rattles from snakes they had killed on their property. Or maybe it was the time that one really bratty boy in my class brought his snake to school for share and tell and then chased all the girls around the playground with it at recess. Take your pick.
Early in life I had quite a shock. One day I found myself face to face with my biggest fear. It was at a 4-year-old’s birthday party. I was about 25 at the time but I was popular with the younger crowd. Our neighbor’s daughter was having a zoo themed birthday party so they hired a company to bring some animals for the kids to see and touch. Mostly they were harmless–a parrot, a ferret. But then the trainer asked all the kids to sit on the ground and the kids insisted that the adults sit too. So there I was sitting on the ground between two toddlers when the trainer walked out with a Burmese python in his arms. I found myself suddenly caught between my fear of the snake and my fear that if I jumped up and ran off screaming I would lose all my street cred with the toddlers. I found myself impersonating the little blue engine that could, repeating, “I think I can, I think I can.” The trainer was a good 10 yards away. Surely I was safe. Then he told us that he was going to lay it across our laps. That thing was going to touch me! My heart raced faster. The toddlers just giggled and got excited. As the trainer started to lay the yellow and white behemoth across our legs I wasn’t so sure I could do it. Then the moment of truth came–the snake was laid across my legs. I took a deep breath and held still–and nothing happened. I looked down the row of toddlers and saw that nothing had happened to them either. In fact, they were petting the snake in fascination. If a 4-year-old was brave enough to pet the snake I could be too. I slowly placed my hand on the snake. I was surprised at how dry and “not slimey” it was. I could feel the texture of its scales–I could see the design in his body. For a brief moment I stopped fearing it and started to see it as something beautiful. Another of God’s creatures. A minute or two later and the trainer took the snake back. The kids moved on to opening presents, but I felt like I deserved the award for bravery. I had done it! I had faced my fears and now… okay, I still don’t like snakes. But along with that fear I can also appreciate them for the beautiful creation they are. They really are amazing. From a distance. Behind glass.
I did learn that day something new about my fears. I don’t think God really expects us to not be afraid. After all there are some really scary things in this world. No, instead I think He asks us to see our fears through His eyes. It is only when I see my fears through the person of Jesus that I am able to both feel fear and peace at the same time. When I worry about the latest act of terrorism in the world and what it will mean for my kids, I am reminded that God is in control. When my friend tells me she has cancer I remember that God is the God who comforts and heals. And when I see a snake, I am reminded that God makes beautiful things. There is peace in that. Not peace as the world gives it, but as God gives it; a peace that surpasses understanding.
Is there a fear in your life that you need to see through God’s eyes? Give your fear to God. He knows it, He understands it. After all, snakes were His idea. And may you, through the midst of your fear, experience His peace.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* “A further result will be to give Israel itself an even more spectacular experience of Yahweh’s faithfulness and power, with the capacity to bring Israel itself to a renewed acknowledgment of Yahweh. There’s no guarantee that Yahweh’s plan will work…. Yahweh intends Israel to come to acknowledge him, but Israel will do so only in a partial way.” –from John Goldingay, Isaiah for Everyone. Westminster John Knox Press, 2015, p. 164.
