Scripture

Have no fear, Ya’akove, you worm, you men of Israel! I will help you.

~Isaiah 41:14, Complete Jewish Bible

Quote

God humbles the great and He makes great the humble.

~Russ Resnik

I am reading a Messianic Jewish devotional and yesterdays reading shocked me. I perked up when I read Isaiah 41:14 out of the Complete Jewish Bible…Ya’akov, you worm!  Years ago I decided I needed a pen name so I got on my English to Hebrew translator and typed in jack and up popped Ya’akov. Being the dummy that I am, I did not realize that Ya’akov is also Jacob and the nearest thing to jack that in the Hebrew language. With that, I realized that my pen name means supplanter or trickster or one who deceives.  Then, what I had done dawned on me and so I thought about changing my pen name,  but then I heard that still small voice remind me that I am every bit as much of a sinner as Jacob. Some people are insulted when you call them a sinner. Most folks would be insulted if you called Them a  worm. The worm is a lowly creature that crawls in the dirt. It has no fangs or stinger. A worm is a harmless creature and no one fears a worm. The worm is helpless and defenseless. Jacob {Israel} was never a huge nation. They were always out numbered by their enemies. They were always in need of Yahweh’s assistance.

Fear is always a problem when we look at the overwhelming numbers. How many folks were in church Sunday across these United States? How many did not attend worship at all? Trust me, the pagans outnumber us and the odds are staggering. In the U.S. church attendance has shown  a steady decline since COVID-19, the political pandemic. In the four years before the pandemic, 2016 through 2019, an average of 34% of U.S. adults said they had attended church, synagogue, mosque or temple in the past seven days. We are averaging about 30% now which is a 4% decrease. I would not assume that this 30% is Christian. Only God knows how many true believers are in this group. My guess would be 10% or less. The point is, we are the minority and it can be intimidating.  The LORD told Israel… Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand {Isa.41:10}. God uses the weak; He always has. What would you say is the greatest work of Christ? Would it not be the atonement on the cross? How did God work this unbelievable miracle of grace? Was it through Jesus strength or His weakness? Some people believe that Jesus quoted Psalm 22 while He was on the cross. Verse 6 says this…But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! God uses our weakness and by doing so, He gets the glory.

If you are protesting, join the club. I don’t cherish the thought of being weak or being referred to as a worm but there is no doubt, this is God’s way. He is close to the humble and the lowly.

Extra

PTL, more wonderful cloud cover today as we draw ever closer to fall. I’m trying not to be anxious, it will get here soon enough but I am excited about the prospects of no more extreme heat. God is good and I thank Him for the four seasons, especially spring and fall. Got in some visits yesterday and more coming today LORD willing. I will be in Psalm 148 tonight.

I hope you have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.