Perfectly Faithful

He wants us back!

"Do not fear." (see Psalm 126, Isaiah 43)

It is often said the encouragement not to fear occurs 365 times in the Bible (one for each day! I have never counted).

Up to about Chapter 39 in the Book of Isaiah the lesson spoken is that God is perfectly faithful despite our unfaithfulness. From every side Israel faced threat, violence and attack. Israel had to choose: "naively" rely on God - or - rely on themselves. Israel decided on themselves and (though they would not have acknowledged this) God kicked to the curb. God warned Israel their way would bring destruction. Not choosing to rely on God is Israel's oft repeated error - it is our oft repeated error!

Israel's King bowing to Assyria

In Isaiah 43 we hear God speaking hope. "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;  I have called you by name, you are mine." God’s faithfulness is perfect - He is faithful even though we are not. Destruction is the result of Israel's error (faithlessness) but our persistent faithful God will not forsake His own. God provides the way home; He will never stop working toward our reunion and restoration with Him because He Loves us. We must simply choose to stop running away. In many ways this story of Israel in Isaiah is the story of the prodigal son. In the prodigal son parable Jesus communicates the whole history of salvation: God provides abundantly for us and He passionately Loves us; He accepts rejection as we choose badly; we refuse God and our error brings destruction; God persistently seeks us; we repent and humbly return to God; God forgives and restores us to a redeemed relationship to Him. It is the history of Grace. Whatever Israel’s (or our) sins have been God is not deterred - no sin is bigger than God's desire and ability to forgive. We are God's children and He wants us back.

Our sin taints what we see and hear; our sin taints how we see and hear. Israel's error remains among us and we are just as blind and deaf to it as were the multitude that have gone before us. When will we seek God and rely upon His certainty? When will we turn away from the vapour of humanity and the rusting trinkets of mortal life? When will we live our yes to God relying on Him alone? Today let us begin to see clearly. Let us begin to hear precisely.

God loves us. God wants us to be home with Him. We need not fear returning for His love covers the multitude of our sin!

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine...
Do not fear, for I am with you (Psalm 126)

God is perfectly faithful ... God is completely reliable - He means what He says.

God calls out to us. Is it yes or is it no?