I Will Be With You

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2

In this passage God is speaking to Judah through the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah has been telling God's people that they will be sent into exile in Babylon because of their sin. Yet, even in captivity, God doesn't want His people to give way to fear. 

And in Isasiah 43:2, God tells Judah that even if they should pass through water and fire, they should not fear. The reason why? God says, "You won’t be swept away by water or burned by fire, because I will be with you.”

The mention of water hearkens back to Israel’s escape from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea and later the crossing of the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. God was with His people on both occasions and made a way for them to "pass through the waters" safely. 

But, this verse also mentions walking through fire and that proved literally true in the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Do you remember their story? All three were cast into a fiery furnace, but when the king of Babylon looked into the furnace he saw not three but four men walking around in the fire. And one of the men looked like a son of God. And none of the men were harmed by the fire. Why? Because God was with them!

Now, if God brought Israel through the waters of the Red Sea and He brought Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego through the fires of their captivity, then how much more will He do so for His church and for you as a New Testament believer? Of course He will.

At some point in the future, trouble will find you. You can't avoid that. But you do not need to live in fear of it for this very simple reason: whatever trouble might find you, you won't have to face it alone. If you are a believer, God will be with you!