Isaiah 41:12
Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
Those who contend with and make war against God's people will come to nothing and vanish so completely that they will be sought for but not found. This belongs with God's promise to hold His people by the hand to strengthen, help, uphold and protect them under opposition, so they need not fear their adversaries. His people are therefore to look to Him and call upon Him for help and protection, trusting the Lord alone and not turning to finite man for wisdom, trust, or strength. That strengthening help is for those who feel unable to free themselves from Satan's snares and for workers who act as God's helping hand in enlightening others and warning against disobedience to His commandments. It is a certain promise to comfort true believers facing severe testing amid the judgments coming upon the world near the close of this earth's history, bringing precious encouragement so they are not discouraged or surprised.
Opposers Come to Nothing
Those who contend with God's people and make war against them will be brought to nothing and to a thing of nought, vanishing and disappearing until though they are sought they cannot be found. This is joined to God's promise when opposition is faced to hold His people by the hand and to strengthen, help, uphold and protect them, so they need not fear their adversaries. That strengthening help is for those who feel unable to free themselves from Satan's snares and for workers who serve as God's helping hand as they carry out His work.
That work includes opposing those who interfere with enlightening people and warning them about disobedience to God's commandments, with God's help and protection in the task. The verse stands in Isaiah 41 to 45, where God very fully reveals His purpose for His people and assures them of His help and power, including bringing water and growth to the wilderness so that people may recognize that the Lord has done it. These chapters, and this chapter with its promise that those who contend against God's people will become nothing, are to be carefully and prayerfully studied.
Trusting God to the End
The promise calls God's people to look to Him and call upon Him for help and protection, rather than turning away from Him to look to finite man for wisdom. The Lord alone is to be trusted, and men are not to trust in men or make flesh their arm. Those who contend and make war against God's people will become powerless and vanish, so that they will be searched for and not found. Strength is given to His own people for diligent and most earnest work for repentance, for the Lord will not be trifled with.
The word stands as a promise and assurance from the Lord to comfort true believers amid the judgments coming upon the world near the closing up of this earth's history. It will certainly be fulfilled in these latter days to those who place themselves where the Lord will surely do all He has promised. That fulfillment brings precious encouragement so that they are not discouraged or surprised. In that final time Lucifer, the fallen angel, wars against God and all who will exalt the Lord. He works to cause calamities by earthquakes and storms on land and sea and by sea and railroad calamities, and acts as a mighty deceiver to take many from the ranks and unite them to be deceived, while those who contend and war against God's people shall become as nothing and as a thing of nought.
The same promise is given to brethren facing a severe test, to encourage them to trust the living, loving Saviour and not become discouraged, for those who contend and make war against God's people will ultimately disappear and become nothing.