Isaiah 41:13-14 (NIVUK)
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.
These verses are spoken into a time when God’s people were in trouble, and in many ways it was their own fault, a consequence of their actions, following other gods instead of God, and not caring for others. But in the middle of chapters of God’s judgement and warning, come these tender words. Despite the fact that they’re small and in a mess (you ‘worm’ is hardly a compliment!) God portrays himself as a parent, reaching out his hand to walk with them and to take them through their troubles. He will help them and buy them out of the mess they have sold themselves into (redeem means to ‘buy back’, like buying back an object exchanged at a pawn shop or to buy back someone who has sold themselves into slavery).
Thank you Father that you love us, even when we are unlovely and when we don’t even love ourselves.
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