Do Not Fear

Do Not Fear (Do not worry or be anxious.)

Isaiah 43:1-2
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

The call of God today in the uncertain world we live in and the challenges of life that often seem to overwhelm us is to “fear not!” When Joshua was called to lead Israel into the land of promise, a land of giants and walled cities that seemed overwhelming and insurmountable, the word of the Lord to him was to fear not, but be strong and courageous, because the Lord God was with him. Over and over when Israel faced insurmountable enemies, the command of the Lord was not to fear. When the tempest on Lake Galilee seemed about to swamp the disciples’ boat, the word of Jesus was, “Do not be afraid.”

In the portion we read today, God gives three reasons why we should not fear. We have been redeemed. Redeemed means to buy back something that belonged to you. I’m reminded of a story of a young boy who built a beautiful sail boat. He took it down to the river to play with it, the current caught it, and it disappeared down the river. One day, the boy passed a pawn shop, and there was his boat in the window. He went in and told the owner that it was his boat and even showed him his initials on the bottom of the boat. The owner said, “Sorry, boy, it is my boat now, and you are going to have to buy it from me.” So the boy went out and worked hard at odd jobs until he saved enough money to buy the boat. As he walked out of the pawn shop the owner overheard him say, “Little boat, you belong to me twice. First I made you, and then I bought you.” We should not worry or fear because we were created by God’s own hands and have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. You are highly favored by God.

God continues by saying “I have called you by my name.” Jesus said, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” (John 15:16) God Almighty, the Creator of the universe who holds all power in His hand, has called you and chosen you by your name. Jesus goes on to say that “no one can snatch you out of my hand.” (John 10:28) Why? Because you belong to God! God goes on to say in Isaiah 43:4, “Since you are precious and honored and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you.”

Because of God’s great love for you and the price He paid to redeem you, you are extremely precious to Him, and He is honored by your presence. God is proud of you. You have His favor. Like Israel, who were in captivity in Babylon, when we are overwhelmed by what we face and the currents of life seem to be washing us away, we forget that we have been redeemed and we are now His. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:31-32, 37)

Andy Clark