Sermon: When the Worm Turns
Scripture: Isaiah 41: 11-16

You may think that you are completely insignificant in this world but consider this…
-Someone drinks coffee from the favorite cup that you gave them.
-Someone heard a song on the radio that reminded them of you.
-Someone read the book that you recommended and plunged headfirst
into it.
-Someone smiled after a hard day’s work because they remembered
the joke that you told them today.
-Someone loves themselves a little bit more because you gave them a
compliment.
Never, ever think that you have no influence whatsoever.

Isaiah 41:14 says, “‘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.”

Worms are small, and worms are lowly. That is the most obvious connection drawn in Isaiah 41:14 between Israel and the worm.

In and of themselves, the children of Israel had no power or glory. They would be trampled by the other nations as easily as people would trample a worm.

But God promises deliverance to His people, protection from their enemies, and triumph in the end. In verse 10 we read: “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”.

Israel’s enemies will be vanquished: “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish” – verse 11.

Though they are a mere worm, a symbol of insignificance, the Lord God Almighty is on their side.

Sometimes you feel very small. Like a worm you feel alone. The prophet says you are neither small, nor alone, but the object of God’s affection. He also has a profound example of how you can separate yourself from feeling like the lowly worm.

Verse 15 – tells of the threshing floor. Threshing means sheaves of wheat are put on the floor and walked around by oxen to separate the sheaves of wheat from the chaff. The instrument is a weighted down wood sled with sharp stones on the bottom to do the separating.

We have our own sharp tooth instrument to help us separate the good from the bad and have bountiful harvest. God is the Redeemer because he will come to the rescue of his captive people and lead them back to the Lord.

God works for us as the human resource forces of our body to advancing knowledge by opening doors in times of trouble and Christ sets us new from spiritual bondage.