“Listen to me, family of Jacob, everyone that’s left of the family of Israel. I’ve been carrying you on my back from the day you were born, and I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old. I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray. I’ve done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.” Isaiah 46: 3, 4, The Message
My Savior and my God, “How excellent is your name in all the earth!” Your promise warms my heart! May we all be blessed as we contemplate, from Your Word, Your never-ending love, Your ceaseless watchcare over us. Thank You Lord! In the name of Jesus. Amen
Today we are looking at a very personal promise. Therefore, I chose a very personalized translation of the text. Can you imagine what such an assurance, as the one in our text for today, would mean to an aged Israelite in captivity? It is hard enough to deal with the aches and pains that accompany old age. Add to that, the fact that in some societies, your worth is calculated by what you can produce, your contribution to “the pot.” What would an old slave be worth in such a society? In their calculation, not much, if anything. But glory and honor, and praise, unto the King of kings; at any, and every age, in His sight, we are priceless! Let me try to make this plain.
“Listen to Me,” God says. “I am the One who carried you on My back more than forty years ago when you left Egypt and the house of bondage. No, it was before that. From the day you were born. No, it was even before that: from the womb! I have carried you this far, and I will continue to carry you, even when you are old. I did not bring you this far to abandon you! You are mine, and I love you!” What a God!
But it gets even better! Is that possible? Yes it is! Listen: “I’ll be there bearing you, when you are old and gray.” Oftentimes we may bear someone, but we are not there for the person. We just bear with them; we don’t hear them, we don’t feel them, we are emotionally detached from them. But YHWH promises to be there for us in our old age! The hymn writer could not help but to break out into singing:
“Never a weakness that He doth not feel, never a sickness that He cannot heal; moment by moment in woe or in weal, Jesus, my Savior, abides with me still[!]“ Daniel W. Whittle (Church Hymnal, p. 507). Praise the Lord!
“[I] will keep on doing it, carrying you on [M]y back, saving you.” “You cannot weary Me, remember? I am the Lord, the everlasting God, I do not faint or grow weary.” He will carry us into the very gates of the New Jerusalem, if we allow Him; because He is not only Sustainer, He is also Savior! Precious promise! Gracious God!
To all who are growing old, or have grown old, fear not, fret not. You could not be in better hands. You are not a burden to God. You are His child, and He loves you! Do not allow anyone, or any society, to make you feel worthless. Wall Street has not even attempted to put a price on the blood of Jesus, with which we were purchased. That is how priceless we are! And just remember: Gray is okay!
YHWH is carrying you on His back, and will continue to do so. It does not, it cannot, get any better than that! Blessings!