“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
In chapter 40, the previous chapter, Isaiah is talking to the Israelites about the comfort of God, and here he continues with that idea of God wanting to help and be there with them. God is saying to them ‘ if you are afraid, understand that I am here with you, and you don’t need to worry, because I am your God’. He goes on to ensure them that if they are weakened, He will give them strength and hold them up.
What an amazing verse from our Lord and Savior. The Creator of the entire world is concerning Himself with the people of earth, wanting to help them and us. The Israelites viewed God differently than we view Him. They didn’t have the privilege of knowing or hearing about Jesus as the Jewish people in the first century did or that we do. We view God as a caring God, where the Israelites viewed Him in a more punitive way.
In this chapter and especially in this verse, Isaiah has recorded what God says to the Israelites in a loving way. It reminds me of a parent who comforts their child who is afraid of the dark or a thunder storm, by saying to the child ‘I am here’. As children of God, we never have to worry about being alone. God is always with us and we just need to become still and feel that He is there.