As I mentioned yesterday Isaiah 49 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. After the song about the coming Messiah, God enclosed some precious gems to encourage the Israelites and all who believe in Jesus. God wanted to assure the Israelites that He would not forget them, and He will not forget us either.

Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!
¹⁶ See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are ever before me. Just like a mother cannot forget her child, so God cannot forget us. He has us engraved in the palms of His hands and He is always in front of me protecting me. What a fabulous image for us as believers. We can know and be assured that God knows us, our needs and is always holding us close. This image is one I call upon for strength and assurance as who would engrave something on your hand that you did not love? The engraving is permanent and He cannot and will not get ‘rid’ of us. I love John 10:28 “ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Nothing can remove us from the grasp and hold of Jesus! Praise God!

In Isaiah 49:23 God is speaking about the future and how God will restore the nation of Israel and the world will know that He is God. Look at the end of this verse in particular.

Kings will be your foster fathers,
    and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground;
    they will lick the dust at your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
    those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” As God revealed Himself further in history, we can see for sure that He alone is God, the Sovereign one. We can be assured that putting our faith and hope in Him will not leave us disappointed. This is a promise we can cling to. God does not disappoint, ever! Perhaps we can’t see the reason for things happening the way they do, but God knows and we can trust Him in all things. We know from Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” and Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” that God is good and desires to care for us and provide for us a future filled with hope. We can know from Psalm 16:6 “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” that God has drawn His boundaries in our lives in places to fill us with hope and beauty. Be assured of this wonderful promise from God’s Word and believe that hope in Him will not disappoint!

The last verse that speaks loudly to me is Isaiah 49:25. God is affirming that He will avenge the Israelites and see them returned to Jerusalem. The last portion of this verse gives me hope for my future and that of my children.

²⁵ But this is what the Lord says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors,
    and plunder retrieved from the fierce;
I will contend with those who contend with you,
    and your children I will save. God promises to fight for us. When we are standing for Him, He will be with us, beside us and engage in the fray. I am reminded of God’s promises in Deuteronomy 32:43 “Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies  and make atonement for his land and people.” and Hebrews 10:30-31 “ For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” God promises to avenge wrongs done to us and protect us. We need to trust Him and leave the timing to Him. When He says it and He will do it! God also promises to save our children- keep on praying that they will turn to Him. He is here and will save them if they will call upon Him. Romans 10:13 “for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” and Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Keep on praying!

Remember: God has you engraved on the palms of His hands. He will not forget you! He will not disappoint. He will fight for you! He will save all who call upon Him. Such precious promises!

Linda