'Fear not, for I have redeemed you....'

"But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; 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 shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior....'" Isaiah 43:1-3a

There are many who would have us believe that the Christian's life in this world will be one without trouble and suffering, but God never makes such a promise. In fact, God tells us that our lives in this sinful world will be full of suffering. Not only will we be hated and persecuted because of our faith, we must suffer pain, sorrow and even temporal death because we are sinners living in a sin-filled world which is under God's curse (cf. 2 Tim. 3:12; Gen. 3)

But need we be afraid in the troubles of life? God's Word tells us: "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine."

While God does not promise us a trouble-free life in this world, He does promise to be with us and keep us through all the sufferings of this life!

As Christians, we can draw on the comfort of Isaiah 43. Each of us has been created by the LORD God; and He has redeemed us with the holy and precious blood of Jesus, shed upon the cross for our sins. Through the preaching of the Gospel, God's Spirit called us to faith in Christ Jesus and has made us the beloved children of God (cf. 2 Thess. 2: 13-14; Gal. 3:26-29; 1 John 3:1-2). We are God's own special people (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9-10).

God, who has both created and redeemed us, promises us: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...."

We can think of the examples of Israel passing safely through the waters of the Red Sea and the flooded Jordan (Ex. 14; Josh. 3- 4); and we can think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, whom God preserved in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3); but this promise of God's Word applies to the troubles and problems we face in our lives as well. Our Savior, Jesus, is with us always as He promised in Matthew 28:20. He will never leave us, nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).

Even though troubles may be all around us, God promises us that "no evil shall befall you" (Psalm 91:10; cf. Ps. 121), and that all will work together for our good (Rom. 8:28).

Even in the valley of the shadow of death we need not be afraid, for our God is with us and will bring us safely through that we may dwell with Him in the house of the LORD forever (Ps. 23).

Why does God do this for us? He tells us: "for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine." He is JEHOVAH our God. He is the Holy One of Israel, and Israel includes all who share in the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And, He is our Savior. He has redeemed us from our sins and from everlasting death by His holy life and innocent sufferings and death for us upon the cross; and He will return to take us to dwell with Him forever.

As we suffer in this world, we also remember that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

Dear LORD God, our Maker and Redeemer, we give You thanks for the comfort of Your Word and for the assurance that You will be with us and bring us safely through this vale of tears to Yourself in heaven. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, we pray. Amen.

Editorial on 01/13/2016