Strength in Love || Isaiah 41:10 || Manna for the Mind #84

Welcome to Day 84 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about taking scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses) and building our understanding of their teachings through their context and connecting scripture. I believe that doing this helps us understand how to be the type of human that God created us to be.

Today’s scripture is Isaiah 41:10, one of the most quoted scriptures I see today. We’ll talk about God’s strength that shows when we’re afraid and discouraged. I will provide verses 8 and 9 as well for context.

Isaiah 41:8-10

8             “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend,

9             I have called you back from the ends of the earth saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.

10          Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up my victorious right hand.

God chose Israel through the family line of Abraham because he wanted to, not because the people deserved it. God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 that many nations and descendants would come from his family. Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob, and Jacob had wrestled with God. He had a name change to Israel, and Israel gave birth to the beginning of the twelve central nations. Although God chose the Israelites to represent him to the world, they failed to do so, so God judged them for their disobedience and sent them into captivity. They wouldn’t listen to God’s commands, so God sent them off to live the life they were heading towards.

God will not force them into a relationship, but he will strongly encourage it. If they don’t want it, they don’t have to be a part of it, but they will have to face the consequences of their actions. Now, we’re all of God’s chosen people! We all share the responsibility of adequately representing him to the world. Some will spread the Gospel using their own agenda or a misunderstood teaching of what scripture said. The more we do this properly, the more people will have a chance to be in a relationship with God. There will be one day that all of us will be together with God in eternity. Because of this, there is no reason to fear today. The world may be awful and chaotic, but our future will be heavenly (pun intended). Our fears can be pushed away because of three things:

• God is with us.
• God has established a relationship with us.
• God assures us of his strength, help, and victory over sin.

God will always be with us, for there is nothing we have done or will do that will separate his love from us. It’s his grace in motion. God has a relationship with us that is established. This came from the sacrifice of Jesus. His sacrifice tore the temple curtain, which signified that the barrier between the general humanity and God is no longer in existence. God repeatedly calls us to lean into his help, his strength, and his victory over sin and the temptations to sin that will lead to death. Jesus’ sacrifice led to victory over death, which led to our path to eternal life.

Let me re-share our focus verse with you because keeping it in your heart when you feel that life is beating you down is essential. Learn it and lean into it! Isaiah 41:10 says this:

10          Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Until next time, stay blessed!