return
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2 ESV
When we trust God is who he says he is, Jesus becomes the strength of our joy & salvation.
Israel was a nation set free from the bondage of Egypt, once slaves under the rule of Pharaoh. In order to reveal the sovereignty of God, scripture says God hardened Pharaoh's heart towards Moses's plea to, 'Let my people go' (Ex 7:13-14) so they would put their trust in God as their Lord, provider and salvation. After the ten plagues (Ex 7:14-12:46) brought on by God and the dividing of the Red Sea (Ex 14), the Israelites came to know the almighty & majestic power of God above the authority of a worldly king and ruler.
However, despite the Israelites knowing the power of God, there was a required process of sanctification for their hearts to trust and worship Him as He is -- a faithful Savior who is steadfast to fulfill every word He has spoken.
God, in His divine wisdom and providence, allowed the Israelites to wander in the desert for forty years to transform, sanctify and renew their hearts to truly know and love Him. This created a steadfast faith in the people that led to true repentance from idolatry and the disobedience of self-sovereignty in a world full of temptation.
Choosing self-sovereignty instead of trusting in God's sovereignty through his commands mirrors the original sin from the Garden of Eden that broke the fellowship between God and man (Ge 2:4-3:24). This verse reminds us God is a merciful Father who is holy, yet slow to anger, steadfast in his love and faithfulness towards us.
If you’ve found yourself wandering today, return to God and place your faith in him once again. Much like the Israelites, we will find God is our only source of salvation, strength and trust, delivering us from all our fears.
In Christ,
Bomyee
additional reading:
Psalm 13:5-6, Psalm 28:7, Proverbs 3:5, Jeremiah 17:7-8
reflect:
Am I reading the Word of God to understand that Jesus is who He says He is? Where am I placing my trust today?
centering prayer:
LORD, Thank you for the work of sanctification that reveals you are my joy, strength & salvation.
Help me keep my trust fixed on you and your word. In Jesus' name, amen.
