Title Like this Jacob (Isaiah 41:8-16)
Contents Jacob like this (Isaiah 41:8-16)
Jacob like this (Isaiah 41:8-16)
In today's Bible, God says, “You, Jacob, you are like an earthworm.” Jacob here refers to Israel and refers to us humans, a specially chosen people, us who believe in Jesus. You who are like earthworms, Jacob and Israel, the background of the text is that in the days of the prophet Isaiah, Judah, in the southern part of the nation of Israel, turned away from God, worshiped idols, broke the Sabbath, depended on the world, and fell into sin. So, as a result of God's judgment, they were taken into captivity by Babylon in 586 B.C., and suffered all kinds of suffering, shame, and insults. They became like earthworms and were destroyed. But even if you are like a worm Jacob, God never forsakes the people God has chosen, and even if you are in a lowly situation like an earthworm, God supports you, and like a new threshing machine, He transforms you into a new being by winning over your enemies.
You, like a worm, Jacob
1. I have chosen you, and I have not rejected you (8-9).
“You, Israel, my servant,” “Jacob, whom I have chosen,” “Abraham, my friend,” means that God chose the Israelites, made them their servants, and regarded them as friends. This covers the saints who believe in Jesus Christ in the New Testament era. To those who believe in Jesus, he said, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” What a great and wonderful blessing this is. As God's chosen ones, we should be grateful and serve God only and be faithful. Then, how pleased God is, so that all things work together for good (Psalm 106:5), the blessing of wealth (Isa 45:3), prayers answered (Luke 18:7), and all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28) and sanctify. No matter how much we are like earthworms, we should be thankful for the grace of God who chooses us and does not forsake us because we hate them, and we must never give up on the word and enjoy God's love and blessings.
2. I will be with you, strengthen you, help you, and uphold you (10).
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Even though we are like earthworms, God protects us and is with us even in the midst of suffering. Emmanuel God, God who is always with us, You are with us until the end of the world. Indeed, God helps. He upholds it with the righteous right hand of God. If you believe in the Word of God, live according to the Word, and remain faithful to God while praying, you will be victorious with faith like the rock.
3. Those who were angry with you, those who fought and fought with you, and those who attack you will perish (11-13).
Those who were angry with you and those who quarrel with you refer to Babylon and its adversaries who harassed Judah. They were angry, quarreled, and persecuted Judah, but when God judges the nations and saves Israel with great power, their enemies are put to shame and become like nothing. This is God's promise to avenge our revenge and give us victory (Deuteronomy 28:7, Joshua 23:10). Even if we are like earthworms, powerless and lowly beings, if we live on God's side, He will surely conquer all strong enemies.
4. I will make you a new threshing machine with sharp teeth (14-16).
God transforms us into new beings. This means that you will make something as lowly and weak as an earthworm as powerful as a threshing machine. It is said that God strengthens the people of Israel to crush their enemies and turn them into crumbs and chaff. This refers to the fact that in the New Testament era, God will make the saints who believe in Christ extremely bold to conquer the world with the gospel.
Everyone, are you weak? Do you think my life is lowly? Do you have no strength, no ability, no dreams? Never despair or be discouraged. God chose us and did not hate us, and He was with us until the end, and He firmly supported us and supported us. He also caused us to destroy all those who wrathed and quarreled and fought and beat us, and made us as weak as earthworms a new threshing machine to crush all idols and the demonic powers of the world to crumble them and disperse them like a whirlwind.
Let's praise God for giving us a great victory with honor and crown. Now, let's not forget three things in any case. The first is not to be afraid (10,14). The second is to rejoice in the Lord (16). The third is to boast in the Lord (16). The saints who have won through faith will always rejoice in this praise of victory. We pray in the name of the Lord that we all become such saints.