Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Israel would glorify God. Period. That’s what God is prophesying. He is stating that He told them everything that was going to happen to them (Deuteronomy 32). He told them so that none of them could take the line that something else (like their idols) had brought them prosperity OR that the idol’s displeasure had brought bad things their way. God had told them the ENTIRE deal WAY before it happened. He is the God that calls things into being. He called them to lean on the God of Israel, the Lord of Hosts (Jesus). He declared former things from the beginning. He announced them. He did it because He KNEW they were stubborn and obstinate and would kick and go their own way as soon as they could. But He had called them to give Him glory and they would – they would just need to be refined. Not a pleasant experience, but a necessary one. He was GOD and was calling them to Him. AND it didn’t have to be this way.

“Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer, the holy one of Israel: “I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, leads you in the way you should go. O that you had listened attentively to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. And your offspring would have been like the sand, and the descendants of your body like its grains. It would not be cut off, and its name would not be destroyed from my presence.”” (Isaiah 48:17-19). Think about that. If they had only done what He asked – nothing impossible, either – then it would have been EXACTLY as He had PROMISED. Instead, they refused and instead got EXACTLY as He had WARNED them. That is a sobering lesson for all of us. There is rest in Him (Jesus). Without Him, the wicked have NO REST.

How will He refine them? How will He restore them? How will He bring it to pass that they will glorify Him? Through the ministry of the Servant of the Lord, the Servant, the Hope of Israel (Jesus). He would be called from His mother’s womb (Luke 1:42-55). He would have the Word as His tongue (Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 19:15). He would be honoured in the eyes of the Lord (Matthew 3:17) and the Lord would be His strength (John 14:28). He would raise up the tribes of Jacob (Galatians 4:4-7) and restore the preserved remnant of Israel (Romans 11:26). He would make them a light to the nations (Matthew 5:14) and His salvation would reach to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14). Jesus would accomplish this. Jesus would be the Restoration of Israel. No one else could do this. He would and He would do it at the acceptable time (Luke 4:17-21).

“Sing for joy, heavens, and rejoice, earth! Mountains must break forth in rejoicing! For Yahweh has comforted his people, and he will take pity on his afflicted ones.” (Isaiah 49:13)

He would do this by lifting up His hand to the nations. The godly would be worshippers of Him. The ungodly would be the judged and punished. The Lord’s hand is NOT to short to redeem. He did NOT abandon His people. They were only sold to punishment on account of their transgressions. His Servant would redeem them. Would pay for their transgressions.

He would give His back to them (John 19:1). He would give His cheeks to those who struck Him, plucked out His beard, and not avoid their spit (Matthew 26:67; Mark 15:19). He would NOT rebel. He would set His face like flint (Luke 9:51) and He WOULD go where He had to go to redeem Israel and all the world (Matthew 26:36-46).

No one can stand against Him. Those who choose to trust in Him? They would walk in the light of His fire with NO darkness. Those who refuse Him? They could stay in darkness, the fires THEY light will bring them no comfort, and they will lie down in sorrow.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Isaiah

Key Verse(s): Isaiah 48:4-6, 17-19; 49:1-4, 8-12, 25-26; 50:5-7, 10-11