The Book Of Isaiah. Day 181, The Helper Of Israel, Part Four

We closed our last study session with the Lord telling Isaiah's people, "Do not fear". He continues with His promise to help them.

"'Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I Myself will help you,' declares the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 'See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel.'" (Isaiah 41:14-16) 

The Lord does not call Israel a "worm" in a derogatory way. Instead He is speaking of the power with which He will enable them to conquer their enemies. A worm's body is soft but there are many types of worms that can destroy crops and wood with their mouths. The Lord has enabled the lowly worm to cut down forests and in this same way He will enable His people to subdue enemies.

The Lord will look after His people, even the lowliest of them. The world often overlooks the poor and needy but the Lord never does. "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them." (Isaiah 41:17)

The Lord is able to turn wastelands into fruitful fields and forests. He can turn deserts into springs. "I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it." (Isaiah 41:18-20) 

Such miracles as those outlined above can be performed only by God. The people will see this and believe in and glorify Him.

Just as the Lord is able to turn barren wastelands into lands of plenty, He is able to turn the barren places of our lives into places of blessing. We may be going through tough times but our God is able to turn our circumstances around. Our God is able to give us peace in the midst of the storm while we are waiting for things to change. Our God is able to comfort us like no one else can.