Isaiah 43 v 1 - 4 HCSB
Now
this is what the LORD says— the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who
formed you, Israel — “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you
by your name; you are Mine. I will be with you when you pass through the
waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You
will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not
burn you. For I Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior, give
Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. Because you are
precious in My sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in
exchange for you and nations instead of your life.
Hierdie dagstukkie is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar
Do not be afraid. It
is a reassurance that runs like a golden thread through the Bible. When angels
appear to people, their first words are usually, "Do not be afraid."
Think of the angel Gabriel's appearance to Mary. Immediately after greeting her,
he says: "Do not be afraid."
The LORD tells us not
to be afraid when the world seems to have turned upside down. Do not be afraid
when Covid spreads like wildfire. Do not be afraid if you yourself are infected
by Covid. Do not be afraid when the events around you furiously blows
everything away like a hurricane.
It is important that
we take note that the LORD is not saying that He will take away the turmoil.
What He does say is that when you have to go through the river with its raging
waters or you have to go through the fire, that He is there for you. You are
not alone.
The LORD does not
always take away the storms, but He gives us the assurance that when we have to
go through the storm that He is by your side because you are precious to Him as
His child. Even when you have to go through the valley of death, He will not
leave you alone. There is nothing that can separate you from the love of
Christ, not even death.
However, the LORD
only gives this promise to his children. Only those who believe in Jesus Christ
as their only Savior and Redeemer are children of God. Are you a child of God?
Believe in Jesus Christ. Confess your sin and acknowledge that you are lost as a
result of it. Believe that Jesus saved you from it with his crucifixion and
resurrection. Trust God and do not be afraid.
Children of God, do
not be afraid when the storms of life rage like a raging hurricane around you.
Amen
