April 3rd, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Helping the Worm To Turn

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Opening Prayer

Father, the heavens declare Your glory, the earth Your love. For Your greatness and tenderness, I praise You.

Read Isaiah 41:1-20

[1] “Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment. [2] “Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow. [3] He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before. [4] Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD-with the first of them and with the last-I am he.” [5] The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward; [6] they help each other and say to their companions, “Be strong!” [7] The metalworker encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer spurs on the one who strikes the anvil. One says of the welding, “It is good.” The other nails down the idol so it will not topple. [8] “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, [9] I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. [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. [11] “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. [12] Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. [13] For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. [14] Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. [15] “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. [16] 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. [17] “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. [18] 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. [19] 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, [20] 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.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“Isaiah sustained the weary people of God by bringing them back to the great fundamentals of their faith: election, calling redemption, the promises and faithfulness of God” (Barry G. Webb).

Think Further

I have recently joined Facebook and enjoy catching up on news and views of friends from years ago. It has been fascinating to read about what encourages, discourages, excites and annoys friends of my friends! Isaiah would have done well on Facebook; his fantastic imagery, his passion, the twists and turns of his argument–I am sure he would have started a whole range of debate lines!

Isaiah is nothing if not realistic. He understands the human condition. He knows there is good in everyone; the help and encouragement given to each other by different craftsmen (6,7a) is great. At the end of the day, however, the work they are doing together is still creating idols! Beware of assuming there is no good in unbelievers, but also beware of assuming that, because there is good in people, the results of their actions must be good. Isaiah knows that Israel is God’s chosen servant (8), but the people do not live up to that title and are well described as a worm (14)!

As in chapter 40, the real focus of Isaiah’s attention, the One on whom he wants his readers to focus their attention is God himself. It is he who is in control; it is he who, making use of world powers like Babylon and Persia causes unbelieving nations to tremble (5). It is he who will turn the worm, “little Israel,” into an effective working machine–the ancient equivalent of the combine harvester (14,15). He will help them, strengthen them, and hold their hands so that they will really know there is no need for them to be afraid. He will transform the people and transform the land. The Holy One of Israel really is a force to be reckoned with!

Apply

What does this chapter show us of God’s involvement in human history? How should this affect your attitude towards world problems?

Closing prayer

Lord, when I focus on the world around, I am often afraid, made to feel like a worm. Help me to keep focusing on You and knowing Your transforming power.

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