July 10 - Isaiah 43:1-13

July 10 – Isaiah 43:1-13

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”   “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”

I can hardly read these verses without my eyes filling with tears.  The beauty of God’s love is so apparent.  He has just told His people that they will be punished and now He lets them know that even while that is occurring He will remain with them. 

How many of us can face punishment with no fear.  We aren’t trained to behave like that.  I remember my father telling me that my punishment hurt him more than it did me.  I still don’t think he was right, but I understand what he was trying to say to me.  But, God wanted His people to understand that in the long run, His redemption of them was greater than the punishment they faced.

It really is difficult for us to comprehend that type of longevity.  We take every very personally and see things only in the short term of our miniscule lives.  God sees things in long periods of time.  His punishment of Israel might have lasted quite a few years – individuals would have lived and died throughout those years.  His redemption of Israel wasn’t to come for many, many years with the arrival of the Messiah and His redemption of the world may not happen for many years to come.

Yet the promises remain.  His love remains.  His steadfastness remains.

The final verses of this section remind us that there is no one besides the Lord who will care for us like that.  He has revealed and saved and proclaimed.  Nothing and no one else can do for His people what He has done, is doing and will do. 

The Israelites were a witness to the world in those days as we are today.  We stand and proclaim that He is God. He is the same God as was known in ancient times.  What He says He will do, will be done.  When He acts, no one can reverse it.  And no one can remove us from the palm of His hand.  Amen!