God Is Bigger!

¹⁰ “Do not be afraid (fear not), for I am with you. Do not be discouraged (dismayed, anxious, worried), for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.... ¹² You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing. ¹³ For I hold you by your right hand — I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Do not be afraid (fear not). I am here to help you. ¹⁴ Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, do not be afraid (fear not), people of Israel, for I will help you. I am the LORD, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel.’... ¹⁷ When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.” Isaiah 41:10, 12-14, 17 (NLT)

Every day God’s people face many challenges and difficulties. During these difficult circumstances, many people wonder if God cares. In Isaiah 41, the living God spoke through His prophet Isaiah to remind His people then and today of His divine Presence, love, and grace (Isaiah 41:10, 13-14; see also Romans 8:31; 2 Peter 1:3-4). Throughout the Holy Scriptures, the living God promises to sustain, provide, and protect His faithful and repentant people (e.g., see Genesis 26:3-4, 24; Genesis 28:15; Genesis 31:3; Joshua 1:5; Jeremiah 1:8, 19; Matthew 28:20; Acts 18:9-10; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Unfortunately, the people of Israel had sinned against the living God through their repeated unfaithfulness, immoral conduct, and utter disobedience (see Isaiah 1:2-4, 16-17, 21-23). Because of their repeated disobedience and unfaithfulness, the living God sent His people into Assyrian and Babylonian exile (see 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Kings 25:1-21). However, the prophet Isaiah saw hope for Israel’s future! God’s loving punishment and discipline do not mean God’s rejections of His people (see also Psalm 94:12; Psalm 119:75; Proverbs 3:11-12; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 54:8; Hebrews 12:5-6). The loving God and His Presence (the Holy Spirit) come to those who remain faithful to Him and repent of their sins (e.g., see Psalm 51:1-3, 7-12; Isaiah 1:27; Isaiah 59:20; Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 18:30-31; Acts 2:38-39). Despite their past rebellion and sins, Israel was not cast away by the living God (Isaiah 41:8-9; see also Isaiah 43:5-7; Isaiah 44:1-2). Truly, the LORD God Almighty is our Redeemer to rescue and restore His faithful people (Isaiah 41:14, 17-20; see also Romans 3:24-25; 1 Corinthians 1:30)! The living God was raising up His servant Cyrus of Persia to help His faithful and repentant people returning from Babylonian exile to rebuild Jerusalem and God’s Temple (Isaiah 41:2, 25; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-3, 13; Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 48:14; see also Ezra 1:1-4, Ezra 6:3-5). Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon in 539 BC, and he was responsible for releasing God’s people to return to Jerusalem.

Starting in Isaiah 40, the living God spoke through His prophet Isaiah to remind His faithful people then and today that He was with them and encouraged His people not to fear nor be afraid. The living and all-powerful God is the LORD of all, and He is the First and Last (Isaiah 41:4; see also Isaiah 43:10-11; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 45:18; Isaiah 48:12; Revelation 1:8, 17; Revelation 22:13). As the LORD of all, the living God protects, strengthens, and helps His faithful people and upholds His faithful people by their right hand then and now (see Isaiah 41:10, 13-14). One of the great truths of the Holy Scriptures is that living God is with and present with His faithful people (e.g., see, Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 20:1; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 43:2, 5; Romans 8:31). Truly, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31; see also Numbers 14:9; Psalm 56:9; Psalm 118:6; Isaiah 8:16; Jeremiah 20:11; Hebrews 13:6). Therefore, there is nothing to fear for the LORD God is with His faithful people and the living God is BIGGER and GREATER than any circumstance and any mountain (see also Isaiah 44:6, 24)!

Even more, the living God can cause His faithful people’s enemies to be confused, shattered, and defeated (Isaiah 41:11-12, 15-16; see also Isaiah 45:24; Isaiah 54:14, 17). In other words, the enemies of God’s faithful people become God’s enemies (e.g., see also Exodus 23:22; Psalm 37:10, 35-40; Isaiah 17:14; Isaiah 29:8; Isaiah 66:14). That is why Jesus commands you to also pray for your enemies (e.g., see Matthew 5:44; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60)! The living God sends His angels to be encamped around His faithful people (e.g., see 2 Kings 6:16; 2 Chronicles 32:7-8; Psalm 34:7; 1 John 4:4). The living God who is LORD and our Redeemer will help, protect, and provide for His faithful people with blessings from above and answer their prayers for help (Isaiah 41:14, 17-19; see also Job 19:25; Isaiah 1:17). So, the faithful people of God should not be fearful, afraid, nor worried about the future or the present circumstances because the living God is ALWAYS with His faithful people (Isaiah 41:10-15; see also Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 37:25; Matthew 28:20; Acts 18:10; 2 Corinthians 4:9 Hebrews 13:5-6). The LORD God Almighty goes ahead of His faithful people to fight their battles and save His faithful people from danger (see Isaiah 43:1-2, 5). Have FAITH and TRUST in the living God and FEAR NOT (see Isaiah 41:10, 13)! Without wholehearted faith and trust in the living God, we cannot expect the living God’s protection and provision (e.g., see Isaiah 8:13-14).

Instead of being fearful and afraid, the living God encourages His faithful people to rejoice and celebrate (Isaiah 41:16; see also Isaiah 61:10; Philippians 4:4-6, 12). The true and living God promises to graciously give His faithful people His Spirit (strength, empowerment, and help) to accomplish His mission and provide ALL their needs (Isaiah 41:17-20; see also e.g., Isaiah 44:2-3, 8; Isaiah 55:1; Haggai 2:4-5; Zechariah 4:4-7). God’s faithful people can count on the living God and His Presence (Holy Spirit, Mighty Hand) to help us with our fears and hard circumstances, to deliver us from our failures, and to strengthen us in our weaknesses (see also Exodus 6:6; Isaiah 40:28-31). So, we must continually have FAITH in the LORD God Almighty (e.g., see Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21). For the LORD God is our shield, and He gives grace, blessings, and goodness to those who faithfully, obediently, and blamelessly walk with Him (e.g., see Psalm 34:9-10; Psalm 84:11-12; Micah 6:6-8). The living God’s powerful Presence is continually and personally with His faithful people to supply all our needs (e.g., see Genesis 39:20-21; Psalm 23:1; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19-20). Only the LORD God Almighty knows the beginning and the end because He holds and controls the future for His glory and His people’s benefit (Isaiah 41:22, 26; see also, Isaiah 43:9; Isaiah 44:7-8; Isaiah 46:10; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

Even more, the true and living God can raise up and bring defeat to any world leader or ruler to protect and provide for His faithful people (see Isaiah 41:2, 25). The true and living God is in control of all world empires, politics, and world leaders (e.g., see Proverbs 21:1). Nothing is too hard for the true and living God because with God everything is possible (e.g., see Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; Luke 18:27). Therefore, God’s faithful people can always know the true and living God, and not some idol or military alliance, is our ever-present help (see Isaiah 41:6-8, 27-29). No money, career, family, or even military power can provide our ever-present help, strength, and power as the living God (see also 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Whether we are concerned about the future or some difficult hardship, we can always turn and talk to the living God, who knows the generations of the future as well as the generations of the past. The living LORD God is trustworthy and forever faithful!

References

Amplified Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987).

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1988).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

NLT Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).