Mensa Otabil - The Lord Will Help Me
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Life has a lot of patterns, you know. You come into this world wanting things to be easy for you, to be cool, but somehow you’ll find you still have to fight to survive, to make it, and to see the goodness of the Lord in your life. In Isaiah chapter 41, verses 12 to 13, we read these words: «You shall seek them and not find them; those who contended with you, those who warred against you shall be as nothing, as the non-existent thing; for I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'» Comforting words from the Lord to His people, to Israel: «Fear not, I will help you.»
One of the realities of the Old Testament, as you read it, is warfare. The stories of the Old Testament occurred during a time in world history when nations literally took pleasure in going to war. Though there were times and seasons for war, when it was a time for war, you went and picked a fight. Every nation was battling during the times of war, and Israel was thrust as a tiny nation into this world of conflict. They had to trust their God to defend them against all these mighty nations going to war around them.
The passage expresses two aspects of warfare. First, it says those who contend against you, and secondly, those who war against you. Those who contend are those who truly oppose everything you do, while those who war against you literally fight you in every area of their lives. God is speaking to His children and His people, saying that many times when you wake up, it seems like you have so many things contending against you. But He assures you that one day, these things will be like nothing, or will be non-existent.
God tells you that you’re going to wake up and find that the enemies that seem so predominant will be as nothing and non-existent. You know, many times when you look through your life, you reflect on things you thought were fighting you—maybe when you were in primary school, secondary school, university, ten years ago, twenty years ago, or five years ago. You may wonder, «When am I ever going to get out of these battles?» But then you look back, and those battles are gone; they are non-existent because God says, «Fear not, I will help you.»
The reason they shall be as nothing is because God says, «I will hold your hand.» He holds your hand, guiding you through your battles and struggles. There is one who holds your hand and will never leave you. Secondly, He speaks to you, saying, «Fear not, I will help you.» If you have a battle in front of you or someone contending with you, God says, «Fear not, I will help you.»
Today, I want you to listen to that voice encouraging you, and I want you to hold that hand that is guiding you. God will not leave you to the devices of the evil one; they may conspire, but God will hold your hand and says to you, «Fear not, I will help you.»
I am Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.