“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. 2 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. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored,
and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth—7 Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:1-7 NKJV
Lord God Almighty,
What a beautiful passage. Containing Your comfort, reminding them of Your divine ownership and promise of restoration. We are now adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5) and so we look at this passage as it relates to ourselves. I have called you by your name. Abraham was given a new name by You. You got Moses attention by calling him by name from a burning, non burning up bush. You do not just see us as another person or a number but as an individual. We forget people’s names but You never forget.
How reassuring that You remember our name, our nature our very being. You understand us, what broke us, what encouraged us, what we fear. And our individual walk through problems, difficulties even death will never be alone, without You. Fear not. Two small words that we often need to hear from You. Did it give as much comfort to the first listeners as it has to the many since Jesus? It is sobering that being a Christian does not mean we are protected from life but You will be with us and will finally see us safely even through death itself.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 21st August 2026
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”
Lyrics: R Keen