But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
10 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I was never taught to ride a bike but I taught myself on a hill. I got going, got scared because I didn’t know how to stop and crashed into a fence. That’s what happens when you do it alone. How much better it is when a parent is right beside us with a hand at the ready to catch us! Israel had that loving parent in Almighty God and failed to realize what a blessing it was until it was too late. The real blessing was that God never abandoned them. He promised through Isaiah that he would be next to them with his right hand extended to catch the offspring of Abraham.
We are that offspring of Abraham, as Paul told us in Galatians 3:29. Therefore, the message God sent to Israel is our message; fear not, for the Lord is with us, strengthening us and holding us up so we do not fall. May we never forget the blessing this is!
As you read this, I will be going into cancer surgery this morning. Pray that I remember these words as I am wheeled in, that I will not crash this time because his right hand is there with me. Cry to the Lord today…
He will help you.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church