Isaiah 49:8-15 (click to view Scripture below)
In Isaiah 49, Israel is a fractured nation. The people who previously saw themselves as the Lord’s favorites, have been conquered by the Lord’s enemies and are now scattered and abused. They feel abandoned, forgotten. Into this lamentable scene, the Lord sends his Messiah — his “Sent One” — to gather those who have been scattered and to convey the message that He has not forgotten them and never could. Verse 15 is a powerful reminder of our relationship with the Lord and his love for us. The Lord says, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
That is the message that ChildHope brings to the poor children of Latin America. In communities of the poor it is easy to feel abandoned by the Lord — forgotten. But when Christians come as Christ’s Sent Ones, with visible expressions of God’s care, entire communities experience transformation.
Regional Coordinator, Andean Region of South America
Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to see those who feel abandoned and forgotten that we may proclaim your Gospel message, that you love them as a mother loves her child and that they are not forgotten.
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Isaiah 49:8-15 (ESV)
8 Thus says the Lord:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
10 they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
12 Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.”
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
See other devotionals in this series.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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