God Is Faithful

Isaiah 43:2 (NASB)
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."

We all have to face hard things. It’s not if you will face them, but when. But when those challenges come, you can know you’re not alone.

In Isaiah 43:2, God reminds Israel that His faithfulness doesn’t change with their circumstances. He was faithful in the past, and He would continue to protect and provide for them in the present and future.

“When you pass through the waters…”
After 400 years of slavery, God empowered Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity. Just as the opposing army was closing in and all seemed lost, God made a way right through the Red Sea (Exodus 14). This is probably what the book of Isaiah is referencing to remind the Israelites of God’s power.

“When you pass through the rivers…”
Isaiah’s readers would have likely been reminded of the time God dried up the Jordan River for the Israelites when they were crossing over with the ark of the Lord. They even built a memorial so that generations to come would remember God’s presence (Joshua 3).

“When you walk through the fire…”
In the book of Daniel, three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace after refusing to obey the king’s decree to bow down to an idol, instead of to God. They were miraculously delivered from the fiery furnace, and didn’t even smell like smoke (Daniel 3).

Even though this event probably hadn’t happened when Isaiah was writing, God’s words still came to pass. And today, when we look at His faithfulness to the men in the fiery furnace, we can reflect on His promise in Isaiah, and remember that God is faithful to protect His people.

Recalling God’s faithfulness in the past helps us trust Him with the future.

Even when faced with worst-case scenarios, God is not surprised. He’s already gone before you. No matter what happens, life’s trials and difficulties will not get the final say. God is still powerful, still providing, and still protecting you … and nothing can stand against our God.

So today, as you think back on your life, how have you seen God’s faithfulness? And how can those memories help you trust Him with your future?