When things get tough, scary, or just downright awful, who do you turn to for help? What or whom do we cling to when times are uncertain? And perhaps more importantly, is your source of help dependable, reliable, and effective in countering or neutralising the threats you face? Is your source of help actually helpful? In today’s passage, we will see how God answers this.
In this section, God has proclaimed comfort to the Israelite exiles that their warfare is ended. Israel is to proclaim good news, because God Himself, the God of all surpassing might is coming, and He will renew the strength of all who wait for Him. As He declares His power, authority, depth, and wisdom, God also contrasts Himself with the worthless idols that the nations construct, which do not even move.
In this passage, God gives a message of assurance to His people in exile. We will see how the Sovereign Lord is the One who helps His people. Therefore, we can trust in Him who helps, and turn not to idols that know and do nothing.
(A) The First and the Last: God is Sovereign; Idols are Powerless and Empty (Isa 41:1-7, 21-29)
Isaiah 41 has a chiastic structure, with the key verse being Isaiah 41:13. Thus, we will see repetition of verses in different sections of this chapter.
In order to understand this chapter, we need to recall the historical context. 2 Chronicles 36:20-23 provides us with the circumstances at the time of writing. This segment of Isaiah addresses events that occur about one and a half centuries after Isaiah died in 700BC. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had been conquered by Assyria in 720 BC and had been in exile since; the Assyrians were later defeated by Babylon, and around 600BC, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was also defeated by Babylon and its people were carried away into captivity by Babylon.
Around this time, a new player comes on the field – the Persian empire, led by Cyrus the Great. Cyrus first comes to reign in 550BC and expands the Persian empire, eventually defeating Babylon and capturing all its land, including the land of Israel and Judah. God then speaks to Cyrus in the first year of his reign, causing him to issue a decree for all Israelites to return to build the temple in Jerusalem. This has been written about in Ezra and Nehemiah. This is what’s going on in the background.
In Isaiah 41:1, we read how He addresses the “coastlands” and “the peoples”. This is a reference to the nations apart from Israel – basically, nations far and wide, even to the farthest nations. God is calling them as an audience to witness God’s hand and his deeds.
We also read of how he “stirred up one from the east” (Isa 41:2), which is also spoken of in Isaiah 41:25b — “from the rising of the sun”, i.e. east”. Historically, we know that Persia is east of Assyria and Babylon. Isaiah 41:25a also speaks of how he “stirred up one from the north”. This, read from Israel and Judah’s perspective, speak of how Persia expands their empire southward, i.e. they come from the north.
These verses provide an image of a conquering king or nation that God has “stirred up”. Cyrus ploughs through the nations before him like a knife through butter, “who victory meets at every step” (Isa 41:2b). We are presented with an image of destruction of the nations under this conqueror — “dust with his sword”, “driven stubble with his bow” in Isaiah 41:3. The phrases “pursues them and passes on safely” and “by paths his feet have not trod” shows the speed at which Cyrus conquers the nations around him (Isa 41:4).
Yet, Cyrus does God’s will (“I stirred up”, “he shall call upon my name”, c.f. Isa 41:25). God declares that He is the one who has done this mighty work, “calling the generations from the beginning.” In Isaiah 41:27, he tells us, “I was the first to say to Zion, “behold, here they are!””
God declares that he not only is in control over Cyrus and the Persian empire, but also had planned and declared it to Israel, through Isaiah’s prophecy, before it even happened! More than one hundred years before Cyrus even came to power, before he was even born, God had predicted Cyrus’ rise to power and conquest over the nations. In fact, predicted is not even the right word — because God had planned it and made it come to pass.
What does it tell us about God? This tells us that God is sovereign over kings and kingdoms. In fact, He is sovereign over the course of world history. Do you find this hard to believe? That there really is such a thing as prophecy? If you struggle to believe this, you are not alone. But remember that these things recorded for us were not written as an account or recap written after the event. A sovereign God revealed and wrote these before the events came to be. A key criteria to verify that a prophet was a real one, was that the events He speaks of really come to pass. Even before the rise of Persia, Isaiah’s prophecies regarding the surrounding nations, like Assyria and Egypt, had come to pass. Why should these prophecies be any different in terms of their accuracy?
This also means that God God is sovereign over all human history. Do you believe that God is sovereign over the course of world events? When you look at your social media feed and look at the news, and you read of or hear of all that’s going on in the world the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine; tension between China and the US; North Korea threatening nuclear retaliation. Or closer to home – rising cost of living, political scandals etc. What is your immediate reaction to all that goes on around you? Do you worry or get anxious about your future, and wonder what is to come?
Yes, God is sovereign over all human history. Everything in history, everything happening now, and everything that will be in the future. God knows it from the first to the last. He knows, because He planned it, and He has the power to make it come through. God is sovereign over all of that. As that song goes “though the nations rage, kingdoms rise and fall; there is still one king reigning over all”. When we look at the chaos going on all around, we need to remember: God is in control. How would that change the way you look at the world?
The response of the nations to the unfolding events is recorded for us. They “have seen and are afraid” and “tremble” in response to the military might and rapid conquests of Cyrus (Isa 41:5). They know they might be next, so they start to prepare for war, they stir up each other to take courage and fight against the invader (Isa 41:6).
Notice also the people that are doing the strengthening in Isaiah 41:7. We read of the craftsman and goldsmith, the one working with the hammer and anvil. Thus, they not only strengthen each other and build weapons, but they turn to their idols and strengthen their idols and anchor their confidence in these. In Isaiah 40:18-20, we’ve already seen the futility of this.
In effect, the nations see the Lord’s hand in raising Cyrus of Persia, but instead of turning to Him, they turn to their idols and cling on to them tighter.
In Isaiah 41:21-29, God again taunts the idols to prove their own power. He challenges them in prophecy (foretelling) and doing good or harm. None of the nations’ prophets had foretold the rise of Cyrus and his conquest of the nations — certainly not a century beforehand! In his taunt, God again points out the emptiness and nothingness of idols and those who worship them. The idols cannot prophesy or predict future events accurately (Isa 41:23). The prophets of idols can’t even point to prophesies they made in the past that came true (Isa 41:22b). All the works of the idols are nothing, empty (Isa 41:24,29). God calls those who cling on to idols and choose to trust in them “abominations” (Isa 41:24).
What does this mean for us today?
(B) Fear Not: I, the Lord Your God, am the One Who Helps You (isa 41:8-20)
The core of this passage is God’s message of assurance addressed to Israel amidst their dismal circumstances. In Isaiah 41:8-9, Israel is described as God’s chosen servant. They are still God’s covenantal people, despite their sinful rebellion and exile from their land). Abraham was described as God’s friend in Isaiah 41:8. They have also been taken from the ends of the earth, because of their situation of exile all over the empire (Isa 41:9b).
They were also described as a worm in Isaiah 41:14a, and also “poor and needy” in Isaiah 41:17a. This reminds us that God had chosen Israel, not because they were great, or attractive, or anything. In fact, their current state of exile is because of their sin. There is no real merit to God choosing them. He has compassion on them and chooses to save them, because they cannot do anything to save themselves.
Isn’t this a different view of God? What kind of a relationship is this?
We are also told what God has done, and what He will do. God has chosen Israel (Isa 41:9c). He will not cast them off! These are precious words even for the people that are in exile!
God promises to answer them and will not forsake them (Isa 41:17c). In Ezra 1-2, we see how it is fulfilled, with God speaking directly to Cyrus, who decrees a return of the exiles.
Let’s pause for a moment to consider the position of Israel in relation to God. In their exile, it seems like they have been abandoned by God because of their sin and rebellion. In fact, they deserve it. Yet God tells them – you are my chosen servant. I will not cast you off. I will not forsake you. When you cry to me, I will answer you. and He delivers them out of exile and restores them back to their land. God’s people back in God’s land.
Have you ever made a total shipwreck of your life? Have you fallen deep into sinful rebellion, and find yourself distant and far off? Are you reminded of your complete poverty and need, that you realise you have no means within yourself to be holy and restore yourself to right relationship with God?
Even when we have repented and received our pardon from God – We will still face trials and opposition. In those times we will quake and quiver, wondering if God will help because of our past sin. Beloved, God will not cast you off, He will not forsake you. He will answer you and help you.
Thus, Israel is called to fear not and be not dismayed, for God is with them (Isa 41:10-12). The nations opposing Israel in war shall perish and “be as nothing”. In Isaiah 41:14-16, He repeats the assurance to fear not, as He is the one who helps them. He is the Holy One of Israel.
Israel will ‘thresh’, ‘crush’, ‘winnow’ their enemies. They will be like chaff that is blown away by the wind like insignificant trash). Notice that the hills and the mountains are the ones being threshed and destroyed here. These are not small and insignificant like rice grains. This picture of the mountains serve to show God’s power.
Notice the repetition of “fear not”. These verses also repeat the use of the word “shall”. This conveys a sense of certainty! There is no doubt that what’s being written of here will be done.
Ezra 4-6 and Nehemiah 4-7 record for us the fulfilment of some of these promises. In these books, we read of how the Israelites face opposition to their rebuilding project, but the opposition is thwarted as God intervenes and protects their work.
We come now to the central focus of the message in Hebrews 8:13. The reason they are not to fear is because God is the One who helps. God helps not from a distance, but closely and each step of the way – “hold your right hand”. That is such as tender image – like a father holding his child’s hand. Assuring them, I am with you, every step of the way.
His message to them is one of repeated assurance – Fear not! Be not dismayed! The nations shall not touch you! For I have chosen you, I will not forsake you, I am your God, I am with you, I will help you and strengthen you (v8-16). Despite the envy, derision, and opposition of all the nations around them, God promises that he will help Israel completely overcome all of them (v11-12, 15-16a).
Does that sound like an easy message to believe to you? When we get to passages with promises like these, we can get tempted to immediately apply them to ourselves. We might go – oh wow, God will be with me and help me. I totally have nothing to fear. I’ll just go out and live my best life now. After all, God will help me right? But then, what if things don’t go well for you? Does that mean God is not with you? That kind of assurance is not assurance at all, and it doesn’t prepare us to face up to the suffering which Jesus himself tells us we will face in this life. If we adopt that kind of triumphalist attitude, we will only be surprised by suffering when it comes.
Put yourselves instead in the shoes of the Israelites who lived 150 years, 100 years, 50 years, 10 years, 5 years before the prophesied events came to pass. Imagine hearing these words of prophecy and assurance and comfort from God, but then… nothing.
Now, on this side of history, we know that what God said did indeed come to pass. But in the moment, those Israelites did not. So, what kept them going? Like us, they looked back to what God said before, the promises He made, and the promises he had already fulfilled. They had to stir up each other to keep the faith, to trust that God’s word had come true, it is true, and it will come true!.
Now friends, God is clear – He is your help. He will not forsake you. But it is not that things will immediately be hunky-dory and go completely swell for you. That wasn’t the case for the Israelites in the decades before the fulfilment, and it won’t necessarily be the case for you. “Fear not. Because I am with you.” You know how great I am. You know what I have done in the past, in all the history of Israel and the church. You know that I am true. You know that I am sovereign over all history, all nations, all people, all time. Now, that wonderful future, it’s not yet. But it will happen. Those things shall come to pass. Trust me.
Isaiah tells us that what we have is the presence of the almighty Creator God with us and the assurance of his proven character and impeccable track record. That provides more precious and lasting assurance.
God uses stirring imagery to describe his bountiful blessings. Water is a symbol of life, and precious for desert people. The Israelites are in such a desperate situation, for hundreds of years, they despair of life itself. And out of that situation, God will provide so abundantly that it is not just enough for people to drink, but even creating an oasis with springs of water and a forest in the midst of the desert (c.f. Isa 41:17-20)!
To whom are these blessings given? The blessings are given to the poor and needy, who are thirsty (Isa 41:17).
To what end? In Isaiah 41:20, we see that the goal is that “that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” God does all of this, in such a wondrous way, to draw the Israelites’ (and the nations’) attention to how amazing He is and his works – in short, he does it for His glory. His glory also is for the benefit of His people – that their trust in him, their awe for God, their love for him may be strengthened!
How does this apply to us? In this passage today, we have seen one threat, raised up by God, and two completely different responses. Notice the contrast between the response of the nations, which is to rebel and turn to their idols, and the response of God’s servants, which is turn to God in rest and trust.
How do you respond to crisis? Many of us would turn to what is familiar to us. We’d rely on our strength. We would quickly cast aside God and turn to what is familiar to us, to the idols that everyone else around us worships. Now, we may not worship carved wooden or metal images. But we do turn to effort and striving at our jobs, smart wealth management, having good connections, getting the best intelligence on where to invest your money, to throwing our energy and attention on the ones whom we desperately want to love us back.
This text reminds us that it is the poor and needy, those who are thirsty and realise their need for God that will receive the blessings that God will give. In Matthew 5:3-6, we’ve read that the poor in spirit and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be blessed. They will be given the kingdom of heaven, and will be satisfied when they pursue righteousness.
Hear also what Jesus himself says in Revelation 21:6-8. Jesus’ words remind us that there are two ways to live – one leads to emptiness, the other to bountiful life. The Sovereign Lord is the One who helps his people. He is trustworthy and true. Would you put your trust in the God who helps?