Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who hope in me will not be disappointed.
Can plunder be taken from warriors,
or captives be rescued from the fierce?
But this is what the Lord says:
yes, captives will be taken from warriors,
and plunder retrieved from the fierce.
Isaiah 49,23ff
The Bible is full of examples of the oppression, capture and torture of people. But when they called to the Lord, he heard and rescued.There are times when we do not understand the reason for all this suffering, and we think it will last a lifetime. But the Lord makes a promise: those who hope in me will not be disappointed. It is not only about our salvation, but about the Lord’s honour! He is strong and mighty. He can keep His promise!Many have become despondent. They feel like prisoners of fate, or like being caught in a net;- there is no way out. Some feel the claw of the enemy on their neck and are lost in addiction and misery;- no hope in sight. To all of these people, Jesus says: those who hope in me will not be disappointed. I can retrieve plunder from the fierce and take captives from warriors.Jesus Himself was captured by death, yet He has risen. He truly conquered death;- and so too will we. He hung on the cross, lived through all the tortures in this world;- and triumphed regardless; no one comes close.Let us keep believing in the Lord who rules over all. Even when the night seems pitch dark and there is no visible reason for hope. He controls everything and will rescue at the right time. The bigger the hardship, the bigger the miracle of deliverance. We see only the present. Jesus stands above the present and sees the beginning and the end. Often I complain to Him, and He answers: you are not yet able to see the end, but I can. I know what I am doing.That is why we should cling to our hope, to Jesus. He will surely deliver, rescue and redeem. He is the Lord.When we seek Him in solitude and pour out our hearts, He gives us this certainty of deliverance. We need to hold onto this certainty and not let go during the day’s stress. We need this certainty; it is our faith that will not be disappointed. With this certainty we can remain still and calm and can even thank the Lord in advance for our salvation. It is good when others pray for us. They can receive this certainty of faith on our behalf and encourage us. In times of despair we need good, reliable, faithful brothers and sisters. Thank You, Jesus, You are Lord! You are Saviour and Redeemer. You save all who call to You in earnest. You hear every call and have a plan of rescue for every one of us. You have never been too late. You have never forgotten or deserted me. Thank You, You are the wonderful Lord!Bible study for today: Jude 1,1-25