Mensa Otabil - The Assurance of His Presence
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Welcome to day number 27 of our 40 days of power. We have 13 more days to go, and this week, as you know, we are looking at God’s promises and what God assures us of. Today, we’re looking at Isaiah chapter 43, verses 1 and 2.
«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. When you pass through the waters, I’ll 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 flames scorch you.»
This prophecy was given to Israel at a very critical time in its history. This was a time when the nation was in crisis. The people had often strayed in their relationship with God; they had gone into apostasy and, as a result, exposed themselves to danger and attack. A foreign army was coming against them to devour them and take over the land. So God sent His prophet to speak to the nation, and the interesting thing is that, although the people had turned their backs on God, His love still reaches out to them, and His mercy still reaches out to them.
In this passage, God reveals Himself to Israel in many ways. I want you to look at the five key things that God says to His people, and I believe that these are still constant in the nature of God towards us. The same God who spoke these words to them remains the same and has these same abilities to demonstrate in our lives.
The first thing God says is that He is their Creator. He says, «Say to them, I am your creator; I formed you.» That’s the very important thing: we exist because of God, and God is the one who owns us; He formed us. We belong to Him, and though sometimes we don’t live up to what He expects from us, we’re still His. He formed us; we belong to God.
The second thing God says to Israel is, «I am your Redeemer; I’m your Savior; I’m the source of your salvation.» He redeemed Israel from the bondage of Egypt, but for us, He didn’t bring us from Egypt; He brought us out from sin. So He is our Redeemer from sin. God, our Creator, is also the one who redeems us from sin.The third thing He says to Israel, which I believe He is still saying to us, is that He knows us by name. He says, «I’ve called you by name; you are mine.» God calls us by name because we belong to Him. He doesn’t just know us as a group; He doesn’t know us in the mass of the earth; He knows us as individuals.
Isn’t it amazing that the Creator of the universe, with all the galaxies in the world and all the planets and all the abundant human beings on earth, knows you by name? That means He has a peculiar and special relationship with you. If you acknowledge God as your Creator and as your Redeemer, then He knows you by name. Your name is written in the book of life. He knows you by name; you’re special to the Lord. He cares about you as an individual and as a person-that’s God’s guarantee to you.
Then He says to them that He is with you. He says, «I’m with you.» Even though you’ve disappointed me, you’ve turned your back on me, and you’ve sinned, I’m still with you. That doesn’t mean I approve of what you’re doing, but I’m here for you. That’s God’s promise to us: He is with us. There’s nothing we can do that makes God totally abandon us, except in the final judgment. However, in this life, when you turn away from God, you can turn back to Him. You can go back to the Lord; He says He is with you; He’s not against you.
The fifth thing He says is that He will protect you. «When you go through the waters, I’ll be with you; when you go through the fire, I’ll be with you.» Now, you may not go through literal water or fire. The water represents something that wants to overthrow you and overwhelm you; it’s a flood. The fire symbolizes anything that wants to destroy you and totally burn you to ashes. God says, «I’m with you there.» You may not feel my presence, but I’m with you, and I will deliver you. So whatever is coming against you as a flood, God will deliver you. Whatever is coming to destroy you, God will deliver you. That is the promise of God to you.
Let us pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, I belong to You. Surround me with Your presence and keep me from all danger and harm. In Jesus' name, amen
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Well, my friend, I’ll be with you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.