Isaiah 41
by Pastor David Groendyk

As you read in yesterday’s devotional, you will notice that this second half of Isaiah reads differently (although, not that differently) than the first half. In terms of historical events that occasion Isaiah’s writing, Judah has undergone exile between chapters 39 and 40. Judah has experienced and is experiencing much of the judgment that Isaiah warned of in the first half of the book, so hope and comfort is much more evident in this second half. Judah now must respond to God’s promises of return, deliverance, salvation, hope, and comfort by becoming God’s faithful servant.

Isaiah 41 is the first of many “Servant Songs”. As you read this half of Isaiah, there will be many instances of somebody being called God’s “servant”. In Isaiah 41, it is the nation of Israel (vv. 8–9). But what we will come to see is that this servant figure goes way beyond anything Israel can do. So, while Israel is called to be a faithful servant to God (and while other figures will be called God’s servants in these chapters), they all point to the one, true Servant who will suffer and reign and carry out God’s will. The ultimate fulfillment of all these prophecies is Jesus Christ, and it is so plain that Isaiah is telling us about Christ that the book of Isaiah is sometimes called “the fifth gospel”.

The one thing that jumps out to me in this chapter is how many times God uses the word “I”. By my count, in verses 1–20, God uses “I” at least 21 times. Do you think he’s trying to get a certain message across? The Lord is the first and the last (v. 4), the one who stirs up nations, performs unmatched deeds, and wins grand victories. The Lord is the one who saves and redeems his people from the farthest corners of the earth (v. 9). And the Lord promises that he is with his people at all times (v. 10). Isaiah 41 is a good study in what it means to have God’s presence with you. When God is with you, it means that you have his strength and help and preservation (v. 10), you have security and are protected (v. 11), you will have your needs met and your thirsts quenched (vv. 17–19), you know the God of all truth and knowledge and wisdom (vv. 26–27). There is no other god or idol who can accomplish all that God has done (vv. 21–29).

It all leads up to the command: “Fear not” (v. 10). When you have God’s presence, you have every right to be fearless. Your God is the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Rev. 22:13). What can man do to you? When we truly appropriate our faith in God by believing in all of the promises of this chapter, we know that we don’t have to fear. How do you need to apply these promises to your life today?