Monday, September 5, 2011

The Fable of the Oppressor

Isaiah 51:12-16

I, even I, am He who comforts you. And the son of man who is made like grass, who are you that you are afraid of man who dies that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker Who stretched our the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor as he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?

So how would you answer God's question? Why are you concerned about the opinions of man? What gives them a right to even have an opinion about you, a child of the living God; a joint heir with Jesus?

They criticize what they do not know!The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking. For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the LORD of hosts is His name I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”

God even puts His name and reputation on the line saying He will provide the words, the sustenance and the protection for you. His desire is for the captives to be set free and He has designed His plan to set them free around us. For the most part, we have abandoned our part of that plan due to the fear of man's opinions.

Isn't it time to take God at His word and step through the fragile wall of fear ("where is the fury of the oppressor?")? Remember that courage is not the absence of fear but of action in the face of fear! That is also the definition of faith! Only the initial step of faith is hard. The second and third steps come much easier after the first one!

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