And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” (Genesis 25:24 ESV)
I was usually chosen last when determining kickball teams. And basketball. And baseball. And football. And soccer. And marbles. It was not a big deal, but with sports such an important part of those days in school, I sometimes felt like I didn’t matter.
But sometimes we feel like nobody, and it hurts. Or it makes us worry. Or it makes us sad. Or it makes us fear. When others seem more blessed than us, or more successful, or more skilled, or more popular, we wonder what our future holds for us.
Isaac was a nobody. The one thing people remember about Isaac is that he was almost sacrificed. He also went from place to place, losing argument after argument about whose water source he could use. And that was when God told Isaac to stop fearing.
God comforted Isaac in a way that we Americans might not appreciate. But we should. God promised Isaac that God would treat Isaac the same way He treated Abraham! Not because Isaac was secretly cool… but for the sake of Abraham. God’s love for Abraham would be extended to Isaac.
We probably would like God to love Isaac for Isaac’s sake. He was not REALLY a nobody, after all. But God was teaching the world about Jesus. As God loved Isaac for Abraham’s sake, God was setting the stage for how He loves us.
God doesn’t really have a REASON to love us. It is not that we are worthless worms. We have abilities, personalities, and beauty. We can be kind, thoughtful, selfless, and valuable. But our sinful nature, heritage, and selves taint us in our Holy God’s eyes. For good reason. God cannot stand sin.
But since God loved Isaac for Abraham’s sake, He set a precedent. A big one. A good one.
God loves US for Jesus’ sake.
Perhaps that makes you pout. But it makes me have peace. If God’s love for me depended on ME, I know that I would mess up. Not even eventually, but SOON, I would do something to deserve wrath instead of love. That would give me real reason to fear… every day… constantly. God’s wrath is the most fearful thing there is.
But God loves me, protects me, likes me, grows me, nurtures me, helps me, and is my God… for Jesus’ sake.
Fear not… because of Jesus.