Isaiah 44:6-8 (NKJV)
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
‘I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God and who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me since I appointed the ancient people and the things that are coming and shall come. Let them show these to them. Do not fear, nor be afraid. Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock. I know not one.’
God had a long history with the nation of Israel at the time of this prophecy. They had encountered wars with other nations who served false gods and seen those nations defeated. They had times when they departed from the living God and served false gods and they suffered the consequences. Time and time again they had to repent and come back to Jehovah, recognizing that He was the only true God. One example of their return to God from idolatry was the showdown on Mt. Carmel when Elijah asked the prophets of Baal to enter a contest to see who the real God was. The Lord demonstrated that day that He was the true God. We may think how foolish they were to think that some other god was God. However, we need to examine our actions and make sure our behavior is not proving us to be foolish. God said, “I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God and who can proclaim as I do?” When we go to God’s Word and see what He says, if we believe He is the First and the Last and there is no one who can proclaim as He does, then why do we fear the words or actions of men or the taunting of the devil against our minds? As God asks questions and makes statements in this passage, He is doing so in order to encourage His people not to be afraid. In other words, if what we see or hear contradicts what God said we must side with God and reject fear. Fear comes to challenge our faith in God and His Word. Fear presents a lie. We must declare our faith in God and hold on to the truth.