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The Lord and Ruler of History
Isaiah 41 - July 17, 2016
If God can predict the future … isn’t this evidence enough that God is real
and God can be trusted?
Isaiah continues the theme of chapter 40 in declaring the greatness of God.
But the emphasis is not on God as Creator … which we saw in chapter 40.
The emphasis in chapter 41 is God in His greatness in dealing with mankind
in history and prophecy.
Once again … God uses a unique way to get people’s attention. He asks
questions. He doesn’t make statements. He asks people to consider evidence
to then make a decision … is He real and what He says will happen … does it
happen?
If we are going to answer His questions accurately … we need to listen to
what He says. Isaiah begins chapter 40 with a challenge. Let’s observe:
 God’s CHALLENGE to Unbelievers
God gives a challenge to non-Christians to enter into a courtroom debate.
Isaiah 41:1
“Coastlands, listen to Me in silence, And let the peoples gain new
strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let us come
together for judgment.
“Coastlands” … it is a metaphor for nations outside of Israel. God is
speaking to ALL nations, all people everywhere.
First thing God demands … in order to truly understand His reality and
His greatness … is silence.
LISTEN TO ME IN SILENCE
The picture here is that of a courtroom. God’s purpose here is to convict
people devoted to idols. First thing to do is listen to the judge’s guidelines.
Lawyers are to be silent. The Judge speaks first.
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Before any evidence by idolaters is given … the Judge will ask some
questions: The first question God asks in verse 2 is to idolaters …
WHO HAS AROUSED ONE FROM THE EAST?
Watch this
God is actually giving a prophecy about someone who is coming from the
east. Further study of Isaiah reveals it is a future leader – Cyrus. In chapter
44 and 45 the one aroused from the east is spoken of by name.
Isaiah 44:28 & 45:1
“It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all
My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ and of the
temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.
Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, whom I have taken by the
right hand, to subdue nations before him and to loose the loins of
kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
So here is God’s question to people who put their trust in idols: Can your
idol do this? Can your God do this? Can your god predict the future …
tell you of a world leader to come and even give you his name a hundred
plus years before he’s born?
God is asking all people of all ages … who is behind history? Who
controls history? Can any idol or any other god do this?
Speaking of what Cyrus will do … which he fulfilled in detail on every
point …
He delivers up nations … subdues kings … makes them like dust with his
sword. God says … Cyrus will do this because He Himself will give Cyrus
the power … the victories … to accomplish what God has designed.
Isaiah 41:4
“Who has performed and accomplished it, calling forth the generations
from the beginning? ‘I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He.
A century before this ruler is born, Isaiah called Cyrus by NAME
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So God is saying … you who place your faith in idols … who can match
what I do? CALLING FORTH THE GENERATIONS FROM THE
BEGINNING.
While Cyrus, is coming in the future … God Himself has existed before
history and will exist after it. Notice how Isaiah words this:
I, THE LORD, AM THE FIRST, AND WITH THE LAST. I AM HE
The point
God is sovereign over HISTORY
So the answer to Isaiah’s question … who is behind history? Jehovah God
is! God invites the nations to settle the question … who controls history?
God’s motive is not primarily to condemn idolaters. He’s using
apologetics … rational and reasonable logic and arguments so unbelievers
will make a decision and turn back to Him.
This is an amazing prophecy
A world ruler is coming from the east, commissioned by Jehovah God to
conquer wherever he goes. He’s going to defeat everyone who comes
against him. With this information clearly revealed … and his victories
assured … and the name of this great commander and general revealed …
what’s the logical decision? What’s the desired response? Repentance
and trust in the true God. But instead of believing God … with evidence
crystal clear … notice what the people in the future will do:
Here is Isaiah asking the idolaters to debate with the living God. He asks
them to give their best arguments and show proof of the believability of
idols. He says … be quiet and consider your arguments first … then lay
them out. Give your evidence. Validate it. Give proof that your idols
have power and can do what I do.
Instead of proving their idols have power … more idols are made to help
them deal with fear of this military commander.
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Isaiah 41:5-7
The coastlands have seen and are afraid; The ends of the earth tremble;
They have drawn near and have come.
41:6 Each one helps his neighbor And says to his brother, “Be strong!”
41:7 So the craftsman encourages the smelter, And he who smooths
metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of
the soldering, “It is good”; And he fastens it with nails, So that it will
not totter.
 God’s ENCOURAGEMENT to Israel
Why would the encouragement that follow be so encouraging? It is
because it comes when Judah, the southern tribes of Israel, have been
punished for their idolatry when they are slaves in Babylon. They will be
torn from their homeland. It would be natural to think that God has
abandoned them. But in contrast to that … God says quite the opposite.
His people remain special to Him.
Isaiah 41:8-9
“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of
Abraham My friend,
41:9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from
its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you
and not rejected you.
ISRAEL, MY SERVANT … people God owns, protects and uses for His
glory
JACOB WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN …
DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM MY FRIEND
Because God has made Israel the object of His love and affection … He
has made them His servants. My friends, to be a servant of the living God
is a great privilege. When God calls us His servant He’s not putting us
down. He’s saying we are His responsibility. Our position is an honored
position. And my friends in Christ … we too are objects of God’s special
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love. We are servants of God. We too have been chosen of God. We too
have been made friends with God.
In light of this covenant relationship … two commands follow … not just
for Israel … but for all who believe.
Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am
your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will
uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
DO NOT FEAR
My friends … this is one of the most important truths for God’s people of
all ages. Watch this! This is a command. It dishonors God when we fear.
But the command comes with promises. What makes not having fear
possible … are the promises that come with it.
A command: DO NOT FEAR.
A promise: FOR I AM WITH YOU
Another command: DO NOT ANXIOUSLY LOOK ABOUT YOU
Multiple promises: FOR I AM YOUR GOD … I WILL
STRENGTHEN YOU … I WILL HELP YOU … I WILL UPHOLD
YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND
My friends … the promises of God need to be applied to our hearts.
There are special times when we need these three words - DO NOT
FEAR
 When physical pain sets in … especially when that pain looks
like it will be increasing
 When unemployment comes … or financial ruin comes … when
riches take wing and fly away
 When you are about to die … and the temptation to fear comes.
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My father in law was diagnosed with a rare skin cancer…told just
a few weeks ago “you’ve got six months.”
This message is for him, for others who know their days are
short…for Herb Names, for my friend Mark…Do not fear!
Where is our comfort found? It is found in knowing and sensing …
God is with you. Though your circumstance seems overwhelming …
God gives 5 supports so we can do what He commands.
Isaiah 41:13
“For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to
you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
Illustration (Spurgeon)
A rookie mountain climber in the alps with an expert guide. As the
climb becomes more treacherous and coldness comes … the novice
begins to fear. But both climbers are connected by a hefty rope. The
encouragement the expert guide provides is … I have traveled this way
many times with climbers as weak as you. But remember … if there be
any danger, it is as great a danger to me as it is to you. We both go
down together, or we are saved together.
Here’s the application… Jesus has bound Himself hard and fast to
every soul that trusts Him. And if you do not find your way to glory,
neither will Christ, for it is both us or neither. But since Christ will
bring everyone who believes in Him to glory … do not fear!
So let’s put this together:
God gives two commands …
 do not fear …
 do not anxiously look about you
Then He tells us the biblical support we have:
 I am with you
 I am your God
 I will strengthen you
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 I will help you
 Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand
Do not miss this!
All biblical commands come with DIVINE SUPPORT
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Do not fear … God is WITH you
Do not fear … God is YOUR God
Do not fear … God WILL STRENGTHEN you
Do not fear … God WILL HELP you
Do not fear … God WILL UPHOLD you
Do you believe that? Is He worthy of your trust?
The supports of our faith
Fear is removed when you have confidence …
 God is your God.
 God is with you.
 God will strengthen you.
 God will help you.
 God will uphold you … continue to sustain you.
Another reason to not fear death … Christ is with you in deepest
sympathy because He experienced greater pains 2000 years ago. He
knows our pain.
WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO CANNOT
SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT ONE WHO
HAS BEEN TEMPTED IN ALL THINGS AS WE ARE …
Now if there is any possibility of any of us thinking we can do this in our
own power … God wants us to know something about ourselves
Isaiah 41:14
“Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,”
declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
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God calls Jacob and His people Israel - YOU WORM
WORM = in comparison to God … we are like worms. Weak, defenseless,
trampled on … made to creep into the earth for safety.
God’s people should have humble thoughts of themselves as worms … to
keep us from exalting ourselves. But here is a marvelous truth. God takes
great delight in helping the weak. When we are weak … humbly aware of
our failures and inabilities … God works great things through us.
John Piper … made an excellent point
If we felt a tiny fraction of how filthy and loathsome our sinful hearts
are to the Holy One of Israel, we could not begin to feel indignant when
we are called a worm.
Only God can make man a somebody.
In verses 15-20 God explains one way He can use a worm.
 He can make a worm a threshing sledge with double edges …
In verses 15-20 Isaiah says that when God is with you … He will be
there for all emergencies:
In verse 21 … Isaiah brings us back to God’s courtroom and the
courtroom debate. We see this in verses 21 and following:
 God’s Call for EVIDENCE
Isaiah 41:21-23
“Present your case,” the LORD says. “Bring forward your strong
arguments,” The King of Jacob says.
41:22 Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;
As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider
them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming;
41:23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we
may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may
anxiously look about us and fear together.
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Idols … look at history and tell us what it means? Tell us how things
progressed from the past to the present
Idols, You’ve heard what I have done. You’ve heard of My prophesies and
their fulfillment. You heard what I will do … what I have done. It’s time to
present your case. You’ve had time to think about it.
PRESENT YOUR CASE … BRING FORWARD YOUR STRONG
ARGUMENTS
Prove that you are alive. Prove you have power. Prove you can predict
the future as I have! I’ve done so over and over again. But you do it!
DECLARE TO US WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE
One of the evidences Christianity is true. Prophecies have been fulfilled.
And here is one of the reasons non-Christian religions are false. Ever
notice that Physics has not been able to predict a winning lottery number?
Non-Christian religions do not hold prophecy conferences. This is one of
the ways we know our God is real … myriads of prophecies have been
fulfilled in detail and to the “T”.
God challenges the idols
ANNOUNCE WHAT IS COMING … go ahead … give us predictions for
the future? DECLARE THE THINGS THAT GOING TO COME
AFTERWARD … do so and you’ll prove you’re a god.
Hey! How about doing something visibly good … or even something
visibly evil so we can see it? Prove you exist! Make yourself known!
God is mocking idols and idol worshippers. And then we see in verses 24
 God’s VERDICT
Isaiah 41:24
Behold, you are of no account, and your work amounts to nothing; He
who chooses you is an abomination.
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Idols … by your silence you prove yourselves to powerless pieces of gold
or wood. And those who worship you are deceived.
But God says … let Me give you evidence I am the true God
Isaiah 41:25-26
“I have aroused one from the north, and he has come; From the rising of
the sun he will call on My name; And he will come upon rulers as upon
mortar, Even as the potter treads clay.”
41:26 Who has declared this from the beginning, that we might know? Or
from former times, that we may say, “He is right? …
Let me summarize the wonderful command to believers … DO NOT
FEAR!
Why? Because the God who judges all the earth … rules the rulers of
history and guides history … the One who called the nations into existence
… is the first and the last … the God who makes Israel His people … and
Gentiles His people … that God says to we who believe:
I am with you.
I am your God.
I will strengthen you
I will help you.
I will uphold you.
Therefore DO NOT FEAR!
Those who know God through Christ … have a clear command with multiple
supports … DO NOT FEAR
Wrap Up
Watch this
The opposite of fear is not COURAGE. The opposite of fear is SAFETY.
When we fear we are easily scared. When we lose our fear the opposite
feeling is the feeling of security. It is confidence in God
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Fear is not overcome by just being brave. Fear is overcome by finding
SECURITY in God through CHRIST