Isaiah 41:10


So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand ~ Isaiah 41:10

God continues to speak to His exiled Jews as they make new homes and find new livelihoods in Babylon. Though they were in captivity, they were allowed some freedoms, but the ultimate freedom of being back in their homeland was the one great thing they desired. It is hard to be in waiting places. We have little patience for those times when answers do not come quickly and when we wonder what God is doing to remedy our situation. This verse, though, is full of consolation. For though the situation for God’s people in this time was full of fear and anxiety, God promises them they have nothing to fear. It is true for us too. For not only was God with the people in Babylon, but He is with us in our “Babylon” experience. God was their protector as He is ours. There is no better protection than that of the Lord, and then we are told to not be dismayed too by this great God. Dismayed as a word is derived from the root word “to see, to look”. It is to say that we should look around and observe, but also stay calm as we see what God sees – His strength, aid, and His righteous right hand. All power we need to fight our battles comes from the Lord! He is faithful and will enable us to bear up under all our trials.

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