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“Present your case,” says the Lord.
    “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
²² “Tell us, you idols,
    what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were,
    so that we may consider them
    and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,
²³     tell us what the future holds,
    so we may know that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,
    so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
²⁴ But you are less than nothing
    and your works are utterly worthless;
    whoever chooses you is detestable.

In Mark Buchanan’s book, ‘Spiritual Rhythm’, he says that in the course of his ministry he regularly has to fly. So he often finds himself in conversation with a total stranger in the next seat. When they find out that he is a pastor, for some it is a conversation-stopper, but for others it is a conversation-starter. He reckons it works out about 50-50. But of those who do open up to him, what in essence they have to say is that they can’t make a decent case for their idolatry. Their gods do not satisfy. They know there is more.

Isaiah was, of course, exposing the folly of bowing down to/trusting in hand-crafted gods. They can’t speak. They can’t interpret the past or predict the future. They can’t do anything. They are hopeless: ‘utterly worthless.’ In some parts of the world, people still do worship such gods. But if the true God is not our God, then we are going to be serving someone or something, and the truth about all idolatry is that it is vain. We pursue tin-pot ‘deities’ that do not and cannot satisfy.

In Justin Brierley’s new book, ‘The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God’, there is a testimony of a woman called Tamara. She gives the reasons why she converted to Christianity:

‘The person of Jesus; the fact that everyone I know wants love, relationship, connection; the fact that everyone I know is often living somewhere between angst and misery and wanting “more” (mixed with times of happiness); because people create and because beauty matters; because of morality.’

Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear…

Do you ever consider yourself to be worm-like: small, insignificant, not particularly attractive, largely unnoticed and under-appreciated? You’re often overlooked and regularly trodden on (or so it seems to you).

Well take heart. I have just watched a video of a short child’s science programme entitled ‘Worms are wonderful.’ The animated female presenter exclaimed, ‘Worms are super-cool’, and, she added, ‘Next time you come across one, thank them! They keep the soil healthy, and that in turn keeps the plants healthy, so we keep healthy.’

Worms, while not being all that glamorous in the popular imagination, have a vital role to play in a delicate, and wonderful, natural eco-system. Most of their work takes place underground, away from the public glare. But it is essential.

May we realise today, how special it is to be a faithful presence in the ‘soil’ where God has placed us.

I will put in the desert
    the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland,
    the fir and the cypress together,
²⁰ so that people may see and know,
    may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

If yesterday brought God’s supernatural (and abundant) provision to our attention, as the passage flows on we see His supernatural work in the world, for His glory. When God does things which would not normally/naturally happen, people take note and recognise that something out of the ordinary is happening. It is obvious that people could not be responsible for it, and it causes them to think deeply.

How the world needs to be able to see a church they cannot explain in merely human terms: church services that cause them to ”…fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (1 Corinthians 14:25).

“The poor and needy search for water,
    but there is none;
    their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the Lord will answer them;
    I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
¹⁸ I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
    and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
    and the parched ground into springs.

”I will make…I will turn…”

“When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. And so on. But when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do.” A. C. Dixon.

How we need what God can do. Strictly speaking, our reliance should not even be on prayer, but on the Lord Himself. Nevertheless, we get the point Dixon is making in this wonderful quote.

The picture painted here is one of a desperate people, looking for water but not finding it. It just isn’t there.

But there is the inference that in their desperation they pray.

In response, God provides abundantly;

He also provides supernaturally.

In a situation where there just is no water, He makes it. Of course, in the memory of God’s people, there was the remarkable story of the water from the rock. The Lord was once again going to provide for these returning exiles, on this ‘second exodus’ through the wilderness

I often think of Hudson Taylor’s dictum that ‘God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.’

So here…

…a desperate people,

…a thirsty people,

…a praying people,

are going to be a more than satisfied people.

How good is our God.

‘The borderline of human need is the borderline of divine miracle.’

For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.
¹⁴ Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
¹⁵ “See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,
    new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
    and reduce the hills to chaff.
¹⁶ You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
    and a gale will blow them away.
But you will rejoice in the Lord
    and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

As we have seen, this section shows how ”little Israel” will become a mountain-moving force with the ”help” of God. He is going to make them into something they are not. So the last two lines are significant. ‘All the glory must be to the Lord.’

This reminds me of the section in 1 Corinthians 1 that we also looked at recently, in conjunction with the above passage in Isaiah. Note the final statement here also:

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Many years ago, I became aware of this song. The lyrics speak for themselves:

While walking on this earth,
We are nothing in ourselves,
Yet God’s chosen to use us,
In His mighty hand,
For the master plan requires human instruments,
But they must not ever glorify themselves.

All the glory must be to the Lord,
Only He is worthy of our praise,
No one on earth should give glory to himself,
For all the glory must be to the Lord.

‘See, I will make you into a threshing-sledge,
    new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
    and reduce the hills to chaff.
¹⁶ You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
    and a gale will blow them away...

You may be Gideon-like, feeling so small and weak: worm-like really. But it’s what God makes of you that counts. He can transform your life into a mountain-moving tool. (There is the idea here that God is going to use His people as instruments of judgment, because ‘threshing’ and winnowing’ are figures of judgment.)

Somebody commented, ‘Imagine a worm being given teeth!

So it’s not what you think when you look in the mirror that counts. It’s who God is and what He can do with you.

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus said to a number of men, ”Follow me, and I will make you…”

Just think what He did with them

Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

I read that the missionary, Hudson Taylor, was introduced in glowing terms at a meeting where he had been invited to speak. When he came to the pulpit, he began by saying, ‘I am the little servant of an illustrious Master.’

He said on another occasion, ‘I often think that God must have been looking for someone small enough and weak enough for Him to use, and that He found me.’

When God addressed His people as ”you worm” He was not being rude. The fact is, they were ”little Israel” in their own eyes – and in reality. But if God Himself helps you, you can do great things, even impossible things in His strength.

We often feel like Gideon and come up with similar excuses:

‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ Judges 6:15. But God’s answer was: ‘I will be with you, and you will…’ (Judges 6:16).

 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

‘All who rage against you
    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
    will be as nothing and perish.
¹² Though you search for your enemies,
    you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
    will be as nothing at all.
¹³ For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.

When I was an older child, and then a teenager, I felt I had nothing to fear if I was in the company of David Butler (mentioned in yesterday’s note). ‘Big Buck’, as he was nick-named, was taller and stronger than me, and he gave me confidence as I walked down the street with him. I didn’t believe anyone was going to ‘get’ me while I was with Dave.

But when I was small, I think I felt even more strength and safety when I walked along the road with my dad holding my hand. Dark nights held many fears for me, but not when I felt my father’s grip. His presence and his touch made all the difference.

“Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you
    will end up out in the cold—
    real losers.
Those who worked against you
    will end up empty-handed—
    nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
    you won’t find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
    not even a memory.
That’s right. Because I, your God,
    have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go.
I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic.
    I’m right here to help you.’ (The Message).

‘But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    you descendants of Abraham my friend,
⁹ I took you from the ends of the earth,
    from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, “You are my servant”;
    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

These words were addressed to the Jews at a specific time in their history, when they were captives in Babylon, but being prepared to return to their homeland. (Verse 9 refers to Abraham’s call when he was in Ur. At that time it seemed like the ‘farthest corner’ of the earth.)

However, there is a very real sense in which these truths are applicable to all of us who, by grace, are God’s ‘friends’ and ‘servants’. He will ‘strengthen’, ‘help’ and ‘uphold’ us, and He wants us to live without fear. If God is with us, we have nothing to fear.

When I was at school, I had a friend by the name of David Butler. Whereas I was small and weak, he was tall and strong. I never felt like I had anyone to fear when I was in his company. No bullies were likely to go after him, but I could be fair game if found alone.

It makes all the difference whose company you keep. Or rather, who keeps you company. If this is true of humans, how much more so Almighty God.