Why is there no need to fear? (Isaiah 41-44; 1 Cor 12)

Why is there no need to fear? Surely there are things that frighten us? Things we fear for ourselves or our loved ones? How can we not fear as we see our loved ones getting weaker? How can God say to His people “fear not”?

We have reached a wonderful part of Isaiah. Whilst chapters 1-39 contain some wonderful promises, they are largely full of judgment. But when we reach chapter 40, the tone changes as can be seen from the first two words “comfort, comfort”. God speaks wonderful words of comfort to a disobedient people. How can He do this? Because their sin is going to be paid for in full. Someone is coming, the perfect servant of the Lord, the one who is so important that mountains should be flattened and valleys filled in to prepare the way for him (40:4). He is coming to shepherd His people. Mighty God is coming to do what Israel should have done, this servant of the Lord is God himself coming to be a light for the nations and to be with His people.

There have been fires of judgment for Israel failed. She was meant to be the servant of the Lord, but she turned out to be blind and deaf to the Lord and so could not help anyone (42:19). She will face God’s judgment of exile (42:25). And then there is an incredible change of tone once again in chapter 43. The LORD reminds them that He is the one who created them, and He is the one who will redeem

them. The future is so certain that Isaiah puts it in the past tense, “fear not, for I have redeemed you” (43:1). God is so certain that something will happen that it’s as if he says “it’s as good as done!” “I have redeemed you.” How can God say “fear not”? Because He promises to be with those He has called by name. The fires and waters you feared do not need to be feared when God is with you. God doesn’t promise we won’t face the fires and the waters, but He does promise to be with His people through the trials so that the rivers won’t overwhelm them, so that the fires will not consume them.

But how can God’s people know this? What about when awful things happen? God tells His people that He is their Saviour, and that they are so precious to Him that He gives men in exchange for them. Think of how God rescued them from Egypt, their rescue cost the lives of many Egyptians as God’s judgment was poured out on them.

For us today, we see an even greater cost, that God gave himself in exchange for us. That we are so precious to Him that He gave His Son in exchange for us. When you are afraid, listen to God says v4 to you:

“You are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you, I give men [Jesus], in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you.”

What amazing words! That the living almighty God should speak so tenderly to His rebellious, faltering people! He can speak those words to us because Jesus faced the fires for us, He faced being overwhelmed as He took the full force of God’s judgment on Himself so that we can know God with us.

If He has done this, then He can truly say to us, “fear not” – I will be with you, trust me, don’t turn anywhere else (look how foolish idolatry is 44:9-20). Know the living God is with you, you are precious to Him, and then you have nothing to fear. Why not try committing Isaiah 43:4-5 to memory? Or at least “fear not, for I am with you”.