DEVOTION – DAY 537

Isaiah 41:13 “God Will Help Us”

Isaiah 41:13 “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.”

Isaiah was a prophet of Israel and he warned the nation against impending threats from the Assyrian Empire and later by the Babylonian Empire. Isaiah warned that God would judge His people for their rebellion and idolatrous ways by allowing them to be conquered by these two threats. But Isaiah also offered hope. In Chap.41, Isaiah prophesied that God would sovereignly use a pagan ruler from the East (Isaiah 41:2) to bring about an end to their suffering under the Babylonian rule. God promised to restore His people and allow them to return and resettle in the land of Israel. In v13 above, God reminds His people that He is the Lord, their God. God would take their right hand and lead them. The people would not need to live in fear for God would help them. This promise is still relevant to all God’s people today. God promises to hold our hands and we do not need to fear because He will help us for He is our Lord God.

Corrie Ten Boom was born in Netherlands in 1892. She helped her father in their family business of running a watchmaker’s shop in Haarlem. As Christians, they were active in their local community, helping the poor. When Germany invaded Netherlands in 1940, Corrie and her family began to provide shelter to Jews who were being hounded by the German Secret Police. During this period, the family were instrumental in saving about 800 Jews, helping them escape through the Dutch Underground Resistance Movement. Disaster struck when the family was arrested by the German Secret Police for their clandestine work. Corrie and her sister were sent to a concentration camp in Germany, and her father died whilst he was in detention, from poor health. 

In prison, Corrie and her sister, Betsie always trusted God to watch over them. They were able to conduct church services secretly in the prison camp using a smuggled Bible. Through these services, many women prisoners became Christians. Corrie and Betsie were beacons of hope for the women prisoners. Betsie died from illness in the concentration camp. But Corrie was released from the camp towards the end of the war. It was only later, that Corrie found out that her release was due to a clerical error. All the women of her age group were due to be sent to their deaths. She was the only one who was released by mistake. God had protected her. She was able to rebuild her life after the war. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your gracious protection and cover over us. Please help us never to be fearful for you are always watching over us. We humbly pray in the great name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. How can fear adversely affect us? Discuss.
  2. How can knowing that God is with us and will help us, encourage and calm our fears? Discuss.
  3. How has God helped you in the past when you were fearful about something?
  4. How can you help your children and your family members trust in God for He is our Protector?