Isaiah 41
v.5-7
The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward; 6each helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!” 7The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer spurs on him who strikes the anvil. He says of the welding, “It is good.” He nails down the idol so it will not topple.
v.8
“But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,
Abraham my friend. Hebrew, ‘Loving me,’ my lover. Abraham was regarded as the friend of God (see 2 Chronicles 20:7). ‘And he was called the Friend of God’ James 2:23. This most honorable appellation he deserved by a life of devoted piety, and by habitually submitting himself to the will of God. The idea in this verse is, that as they were the descendants of his friend, God deemed himself bound to protect and deliver them according to his gracious promises; and this is one of the many instances where the divine favor is manifested to descendants in consequence of the piety and prayers of their ancestors.
God loves all but few He calls friends.
v.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.
God settles our fears with seemingly the same truth: He is with us. See also Hebrews 13:5.
v.13
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
v.15
“See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.
v.20
so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
The purpose of wilderness.
v.21
“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
There needs no more to show the folly of sin, than to bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing, and worse than nothing. Let the advocates of other doctrines than that of salvation through Christ, bring their arguments. Can they tell of a cure for human depravity?
v.24
But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is detestable.
v.29
See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion.
Isaiah describes the idols themselves as a wind since they are formless and lack solidity. Jesus describes faith as wind, so what gives? Our faith is not based anything tangible in our senses. It is like the wind but its object we believe is sure to be solid and powerful.