“I got your back.” Is there anything more comforting than to have a friend say those words? Especially when we are under attack, we crave the reassurance that someone is with us who will protect us.

That’s the amazing good news for all who love and trust the Lord Jesus – God has our back. That’s because, as Paul explains in Galatians chapter 3, Jesus is the seed of Abraham. That means He’s the One Who received all the promises God made to Abraham. And all those who trust in Christ, all those who thus share the faith of Abraham, also become recipients of those promises.

And these promises include the amazing statement we find in verse 8 – that God, the One Who in the language of physics spoke the stars and planets into being, the One Who in the language of DNA spoke every form of life into existence, also speaks to human beings in our language. And Isaiah recorded some of those very words some 2700 years ago.

So, what does this message from God say to those who are in Christ? That He will strengthen us and help us, no matter what we are going through. That He will stand up against all our enemies. That He will hold us by the hand and lead us where we need to go. That He is our friend.

And how can we doubt that any of these promises are true? For God did more than just speak words to us – He came to live with us in the Person of Jesus. And in Christ, He has kept all these promises and more: Jesus died so that we wouldn’t need to fear the punishment our sins deserve anymore, and He rose from the dead so that we might not fear death anymore. So of course we don’t need to be afraid anymore, since God has helped us in such a dramatic and comprehensive way.

How can those who share the faith of Abraham possibly respond to such gracious promises? What can those who love and trust the Lord Jesus possibly do for God after He has done so much for us? Verse 8 calls us God’s friend, but also says that we are God’s servants. Isn’t serving Him, living for His glory, the least that we can do?

Isaiah 41:8-13 (ESV)

8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.
12 You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.
13 For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”