I recall walking down a sidewalk with my niece who was around ten years old at the time. It was a hot, sunny day. On the sidewalk were hundreds of shriveled, brown, dead earthworms. It was disgusting. My niece named the sidewalk, “the valley of the shadow of death”. (She could and still finds humor in anything.) A struggling earthworm caught on the burning pavement became to her a source of compassion. I would have left the disgusting thing behind, but she wanted to help the poor critter survive by moving him into the cool grass. It was an easy transport for her as a “giant” to move the worm to refuge which was beyond reach to the worm due to the distance, the concrete, and the sun. One earthworm survived for another day.
I am reminded of this story whenever I read this verse:
Isaiah 41:14
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
An entire nation is like a tiny, helpless worm to the Lord. The worm is helpless in its circumstances, overcome by the many obstacles against it. The nation of Israel had many foes to contend against.
Isaiah 41:12-13
“All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
All, the many, that would come against Israel, all would become as nothing at all. Why? Because the Lord helped them. The Lord, a “giant” above the circumstances, chose to pick up and help a tiny nation to protect it from permanent annihilation. Other nations would be destroyed, by one nation would be saved, not by their merit but the heart of God toward them.
Isaiah 41:8-9
“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
Even though throughout history Israel rejected God, the Lord did not reject them. There was discipline of course for their disobedience, but He always showed His love toward them, gave them mercy, and kept His promise to them as a nation as evident even today.
There are times I utilize these verses to pray. I remind the Lord that I am like a worm, not able to navigate the circumstances against me. Without divine help, I will shrivel up in these situations. I ask for His help, not because of anything worthwhile on my part, for what can a worm offer the owner of the universe? Yet, in His tender compassion, He helps even me.
Whatever you may be going through today, please know this: the Lord is not walking by, disgusted by you or oblivious to your circumstances. He desires to help because of His deep compassion for you. God will not leave you on the burning sidewalk of life but will pick you up and take you to the “green pastures”. No situation is too difficult for Him. Do not be afraid. The Lord rescues worms, like you and me.
Psalm 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.