The nation’s source of hope and strength is their idols and their false philosophies.
Verses 41:1-7 give us a description of the labor, the planning, the cooperation and teamwork used by the pagans to create an idol (or, a false world philosophy).  Would it not be easier to trust God?  Isn’t organizing and leading a revolt a lot of work? This rebellion of the nations is summed up in Psalm 2.
 
In Isaiah 41:8-16 God will now speak to Israel. The Lord will deal differently with Israel than he deals with the nations. The Lord has a covenant with Israel and will complete his promise
 
41:8
The nations need to fear, but Israel does not.
Though Israel will be punished and disciplined they will honor God and be delivered.
 
41:9
God tells Israel where they have come from.
He says:

• “I took you”
• “I called you”
• “You are My servant.”
• “I have chosen you”
• “I have not rejected you.”

Their identity is all based on God, his will, his actions, his plan.
They need not be afraid.
 
41:10
Because verse 41:9 is true and God is not going to change, then the statements in verse 41:10 are also true for Israel:

• “I am with you. . .do not be afraid.”
• “I am your God. . . do not be dismayed.”
• “I will strengthen you.”
• “I will help you.”
• “I will uphold you”

Never before had an exiled nations been brought back to their homeland to start over.
Israel is the only nation to undergo the five cycles of judgment and be brought back as a nation. 
This has now happened twice.
 
41:11
The promises to Israel continue but this time in reference to their enemies and the nations that opposes them.

• Disgrace and shame to those who rage against Israel
• Opponents are as nothing and will vanish
• Enemies cannot be found
• Those who wage war against Israel will be as nothing at all.  (Ezekiel 38, 39 describes the end of today’s terrorist states.)

Of course, these promises were fulfilled in Cyrus’s day. But, the principles of God’s dealing with Israel continue like this forever.
 
41:13-14
God says he will defend Israel even though Jacob is a defenseless worm.
Worm is used to describe Jacob’s condition and inability to help themselves.
Worm is obviously NOT a term used to ascribe Israel’s value to God.
Israel is called God’s treasure.
 
41:15
In Isaiah 41:15, the worm, the tiller of the soil in 41:14, becomes the threshing sledge of the mountains and hills.

Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,
    new, sharp, and having teeth;
you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,
    and you shall make the hills like chaff. - Isaiah 41:15

Both thieves (or, rebels) that were on the crosses with Jesus reviled and mocked Jesus, at least during the early hours of the six hours that Jesus was on the cross. (Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:32)
At some point while they were on the crosses one of the thieves rebuked the other thief saying, “Don’t you fear God?” Then he turned and asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. (Luke 23:39-43)