116. Know the Lord
Isaiah 52:6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
We shall know the Lord; we shall know His name; we shall know His voice; we shall know He speaks, “it is I.” When the disciples were tossed about and sore afraid in the storm, wind and waves on the lake they saw Jesus walking on the water. He said, “Fear not, it is I.” Jesus will speak these most comforting and reassuring words in the midst of every storm of life. We know Him; we know His name, we know His voice; we know His presence. He speaks to us the same words: “Be not afraid; it is I.”
When Jesus speaks, what is there to be afraid of? For we have the promise that we shall know Him. God shows up in our lives all the time, especially in times of trouble and fear. When He shows up it is unexpected and surprising. He answers prayers in ways we could never have imagined. We recognize Him because we know Him. We hear Him and we are immediately comforted, and love and peace floods over the soul and washes away the fear and worry. All this is true because God promises that we will know His name. In response to the Gospel we speak the name of Jesus, because the Spirit has given us faith to know Him.
In this verse, the words “in that day” is code for “the days of the Messiah, or the days of the New Testament,” the very day in which we are living today. Today is “that day.” It is also especially the day we need Him. “Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee. [Psalm 50:15].” We may “call upon the Lord in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks, “ because we know His name: it is Jesus. Hear the voice of Jesus: It is I. The Lord is always present to us, and we know it, but know that in the day of trouble He will be present in a powerful way to deliver.
Use this promise to see and hear the Lord and to recognize and know Him. He will show up at unexpected times and unusual ways. You have the promise: you know Him. Learn to watch for “God sightings.”