Not a Castaway

Isaiah 41:13

 

13For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'

 

Just as you were a child getting in the kiddie pool for the first time holding your parent's hand, so God is holding your hand now. Fear not is said  twice in this psalm. God repeatedly reassured Israel that He was with them and to 'be of good courage'. In verse 9 He says, "I have chosen you and have not cast you away." When you are in a new place crossing dangerous waters, it is easy to feel that you have been cast away. But God! God is present and still holding your hand. The NKJ Study Bible gives the translation as "Israel is identified as the Lord's servant." It goes on to say, "To be God's servant means to belong to the Lord and to give allegiance only to Him. The Lord's servant has no reason to fear, for the Lord provides security and protection." But what does it mean to give allegiance to only Him? Jesus said in Matthew 6 that you cannot serve two masters. So who do you serve? When you are small you look to your parents to provide you with security and protection. The Lord is saying that He is your security and He is your protector, El Shaddai and He is Jehovah Roi, the God who sees. He sees the wave in the waters that you cannot see. So He is able and will maneuver you through the waves while still holding your hand. You are not a castaway. You belong to Him.