Isaiah 51:11-16 – Don’t forget that we are God’s redeemed

In response to the cry for the arm of the Lord to awake and help His people in exile, God answered in Isaiah 51:11-16. Here He promised that the redeemed of the Lord shall triumphantly return to Zion. They would come home shouting with great joy of celebration. Joy and gladness shall be their experience and all sorrow and mourning shall flee.  

Emphatically God promised that He Himself would ensure it so they should have no fear. Here He was calling on them to remember that He Himself was their God. And this is one truth they should not forget. Hence, they should not be fearful of the oppressors. Why? For they were mere men who would not have the capacity to take Him on. In promising that their release from captivity was near, He assured them that what He had promised was not idle words. They would surely come to pass. For He was the One who had stretched out the heavens and established the foundation of the earth.   

 

The Sovereign Lord who controls nature that even the waves of the sea had to obey Him, had made a solemn promise to protect His people. He would cover them with the shadow of His hand. Besides, being their protector He would also be their provider. He promised that they would never lack bread.  

 

In these verses, we can see the description of the people of God in exile and living in fear. The reason they were in that state of flux was that they had forgotten who their God was. Here God came comforting them and assuring them of their soon release. He reminded them of who they were to Him. Being the Supreme God, where no mortal was His equal, God assured them of their deliverance. He would not only protect and defend them but would also provide for them. Like them, we need to be constantly assured that God, the one who protects and provides for us, is constantly with us. Be assured that our God is always with us. He will free us from our bondage to fear and grant us the victory we need. Remember the Lord’s final words to His people in Matthew 28:2o. He said, “…behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Take heart and know that we have a great God who will never leave us nor let us down. Let us never forget that!