Do Not Fear

Isaiah 43: 1-7

1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children 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 hold 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 created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."

"The main point of the passage is to encourage God's people not to fear what man or nature can do to them. This is the command repeated in verse 1 and verse 5. After each of these commands not to fear God gives his reasons why his people should not fear. In verses 1–4 God argues like this: You should not fear because what I did for you in the past proves my love to you and my care for you. "I redeemed you (from Egyptian bondage), I called you by name, you are mine!" (v. 1). So you can count on me to help you when deep waters and raging fire threaten to destroy you (v. 2). "I am the Lord your God, your Savior, you are precious to me." Look, have I not subjugated other peoples in order to save you (vv. 3, 4)? So don't be afraid of the trouble coming upon you. That is the first argument why God's people should not fear.

Then verse 5 repeats the command, "Don't fear," and gives a new argument in verses 5–7. "I am with you! The judgment of being dispersed into captivity away from your land—this is not my final word. I will gather you again. For you are called by my name, I created you for my glory."

What is it that at rock bottom moves God to help his people? Verse 4 says, "You are precious in my eyes . . . I love you." Is that the answer? In a sense, yes. When John said, "God is love," he no doubt meant that no matter how deep we probe into the motives of God, we will never arrive at a layer which is not love."

From John Piper, "God Created Us for His Glory"