04/02/20—I just saw this verse on a local church sign: “Isaiah 41:10 (CSB) Do not fear, for I am with you…” The rest of the verse is “do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” At first glance this verse seems like just the encouragement we need during this national-/world-wide crisis. Is this a promise from God that He will stay right beside each one of us, throughout this and all crises, no matter who we are?

The CONTEXT is NOT so entirely encouraging. Isaiah is prophesying that God is about to punish His people by sending them into captivity/exile for 70 years. Most of the Hebrew adults would die in a foreign land during that time; and, in reality, only a small fraction of the Jews EVER actually returned to Israel. As fearful as that prospect was, God said not to panic—He would still love them; they would still be His people; He would not abandon them completely and finally. Eventually, when their well-deserved punishment was completed, He would restore them. Maybe, just maybe, this is EXACTLY the biblical message our increasingly godless nation needs to hear!