Have you been concerned with what is happening in Egypt this week? This world is filled with things to fear, from the simplest thing as worrying if your paycheck will stretch until the next paycheck to terrorism and war. So much to worry about can be overwhelming.
God says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; 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 will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;” (Isaiah 43:1b-3a AMP)
Fear not, for I have “redeemed you…” In the original Hebrew the word “redeemed is GA’AL which means to deliver, to purchase, to redeem, or to redeem from slavery.” The first reason God gives us to fear not is that he has freed us from the slavery of sin by paying the price required for sin, which is death. He died for us so that we would never have to pay that price. When we accept this redemption we no longer have to fear hell and death, for death brings our release to go directly into His arms. People who do not accept this redemption fear death because they have no hope of a future. Are you redeemed?
Fear not, for I have “called you by name; you are mine.” We are the creation of God. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you;” (Jeremiah 1:5 AMP) Being the creation does not set us apart, but God knowing us and approving us does. He calls us by name. He paid for and lays claim to us and calls us His possession. Those who belong to Him have nothing to fear because the Mighty God takes care of them. He would never neglect or abuse His own possession. Those who do not belong to Him do not have this protection or provision and struggle to make it on their own. Do you belong to Him?
Fear not, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you,” During the winter rains we always hear of flash floods washing away houses, cars and taking people’s lives. Water, though needed to sustain life, can be very destructive. Passing through the waters is an excellent metaphor of having to go through heavy and destructive trials. When we are redeemed by God He promises to be with us. If He does not remove the trial or remove us from it He will see us THROUGH it. Just think, when God, the Creator of the universe, is walking with you then nothing can stop you. You will not be overwhelmed. You can make it. Are you and He walking together?
Fear not, “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.” During the summer heat we hear of wild fires ravaging great amounts of forests and land, threatening livestock, land, homes. Firemen come in from fighting the fires smelling so strong of smoke the smell cannot be washed out of their clothes. Here, again, God uses an excellent metaphor we can relate to. We are well acquainted with fire. It can be used to warm us and cook our food, but it also can be equally if not more destructive than water. I live in Northern California and it seems every summer we have fires in the surrounding hillsides started by lightning strikes from summer storms. I remember one year when the fires were on all three sides of those of us in the valley and we had to breathe all that smoke and soot all summer long. Some firefighters lost their lives that summer. Fires can bring up a good amount of fear. God is saying in Isaiah 2b that we will not be burned by the trials of fires we experience when we are redeemed by Him. Do you remember the story about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? (Daniel 3) King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than it was usually heated. The flame and sparks from the fire killed the very men who threw them into the furnace but the fire did not touch them. In fact King Nebuchadnezzar actually saw four men in the fire, and thought the fourth man looked like the “the son of god.” When the three men came out not a hair of their head was singed and even their garments were not scorched nor had even the smell of smoke. This is just how much the fires of our trials and testings will actually affect us when we walk with God. He will walk with us and bring us out the other side untouched and unscathed. Are you walking with God?
Fear not, “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;” No matter where we have been, what we are going through or what is coming, those who call Him their Savior have no reason to fear, because He is with us. Yes, this world is filled to the brim with things to fear, but God has said, “Fear not!” The words “fear not” appear more than 65 times in the Bible. I heard it once preached that if God repeats something it must be important. We need to hear those words, “Fear Not!” The key to really hearing those words and feeling the full meaning of them is to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Have you made Him your Lord and Savior? If you have then FEAR NOT! If you have not, then you are welcome to contact me at kingsmonarch@gmail.com. I would love to share with you how you can FEAR NOT!
