Why the people of God have no cause for fear or confusion.

Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." NIV

The first word is "So". We therefore realize that the verse is a consequence of the teaching contained in previous verses. By examining verses 8 and 9, we see that their theme is that God has chosen and called his people Israel from the ends of the earth. How do these verses link with the passage in verse 10? The Word 'so' such a link word.

Turning back to verse 10, we can identify a negative command, "do not fear", followed by a reason which is also a promise, "for I am with you." Next we have a second negative command, "do not be dismayed", followed by a reason which is also a promise, "for I am your God." Then we have three reasons and promises why Israel should not fear: "I will stregnthen you"; "I will help you" and "I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Thus in the midst of Israel's fears that her disobedience guarantees abandonement by God, the Lord steps in and promises active intervention to help exiled Israel, the right hand being symbolic of God's saving power.

Drawing together our two negative commands, each followed by a reason, and the whole followed by three further promises, we can now suggest the following breakdown of content:

Main Theme: Why the people of God have no cause for fear or confusion.
Sub-themes:
i). God is present - he will not desert/leave us.
ii). God is personal - he owns his people.
iii). God is powerful - he will strengthen, help and uphold us.

(Dr. Derek Newton: And the Word Became...a Sermon. pp.79-80)