Servant and Friend – Isaiah 41:8-10

Can a servant truly be your friend?  Can you make your friend a servant?  For God, the answer is yes.  I’m sure humans have experienced it also.  Queen Victoria had a servant from India who became a very close friend (see video).  Their relationship is memorialized in the movie Victoria and Abdul.  Isaiah memorializes Israel as both God’s friend through Abraham and God’s servant.

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 41:8-10 ESV)

Though Yahweh will use Babylon, led by Nebuchadnezzar, to discipline the nations, Israel is Yahweh’s chosen servant above all others, the descendant of Yahweh’s friend Abraham.   And in loyalty to His covenant with Abraham, God will never cast Israel away.  Instead, God will be with them and strengthen them and help them and uphold them.

This passage is the first of several passages in Isaiah in which God addresses His servant (Isaiah 41:8-14, 17-20; 42:1-12; 44:1-8k 21-23; 49:1-13; and 52:13-53:12).  Though the servant is identified as Israel in this passage and in chapter 48, it is evident that God’s perspective on the servant transcends the nation.  In fact, in 49:5 he is said to be the one who will bring Jacob/Israel back to God.  Israel is God’s servant, but her greater son, Messiah, is the ultimate Israel and the ultimate servant.  And by extension, we are God’s servants as well, since we are in Christ.  So what God says here to Israel He also says to us.

Do you need strength?  Do you need someone to help you?  Are you so weak you need someone to uphold you?  The answer is yes.  God’s righteous right hand is at our service because of the covenant He has with us through Jesus Christ.  He will be with us through any and every situation we face.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the closest you can come to having a servant/friend?
2. How do you react to God’s having chosen you to be His servant and friend?
3. Why would having this relationship with God mean that we should not fear?
4. Will God uphold with His righteous right hand someone who is not righteous?  If not, what hope do we have?
5. What service is God calling you to?  What are your obligations?
6. What aspects of friendship with God have you taken advantage of? Abused?