“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am first, and will be with the last…. But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Yes, all who are incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you insect Israel! I will help you, says the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 41:4, 8-14
When does good news not sound so good? Sometimes it has to do with the delivery, even the tone of voice.
When a friend says, “OF COURSE I’M STILL YOUR FRIEND” through pursed lips and an obviously angry red face…let’s just say this sentiment falls a bit short of that old warm and fuzzy feeling. They still love you but it seems like their outsides don’t seem to reflect the insides.
So it is in these verses. God is reassuring his people Israel that he is with them, that he has always been with them, that he will defend them, that he will strengthen them, just as he always has. But then comes the kicker, “Do not fear, You WORM Jacob, you INSECT Israel!”
Ouch.
It sounds as if God is frustrated with Israel. The language carries a frustrated tone. So we might ask ourselves – does God get frustrated with us? More importantly, in the conception of God that we carry in our hearts and minds, is there room for God to get frustrated with us? Or do we let God off the hook of anything that might sound like an inappropriate feeling? Or are we really letting ourselves off the hook by defining God only by good feelings, constant patience, nice stuff?
I know myself. I’m not at all surprised at the idea that God would be frustrated with me. I know God is love and God loves me. I know that Jesus is my Savior, my hope and my redeemer. I know I am good enough for God and that God provides enough for my family and I to live. I know I can be useful for God in the world. But at the same time, far too often my inner darkness blinds me to all of that. I can imagine God being frustrated with me when I feel despair and emptiness, or how often I live as though I have nothing to do with God.
So yes, there is room in my thinking for God to get frustrated with those he loves. People who love us get frustrated with us too. Because they (and God) only want what is best for us and they (and God) will never let us go.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, we know we can be frustrating with our whining and our worrying and our wayward ways. Forgive us for all of that and don’t quit asking for our very best. For we know in our hearts that you only want what is best for us and for the world around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Devotions 