But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.
I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
Isaiah 43 offers a powerful message of God's unwavering love and commitment to His people, even in the face of their unfaithfulness. This chapter seamlessly blends promises of future restoration with reminders of God's unique and exclusive power. It's a testament to His grace, inviting both Israel and us to reflect on His character and our relationship with Him.
God's Redeeming Love (Isaiah 43:1-7)
Following pronouncements of judgment upon Israel, God consistently offers assurances of future redemption and ultimate restoration. Even amidst necessary discipline, He reassures them, "I have called you by your name; you are mine" (Isaiah 43:1). This declaration underscores the special covenant relationship God maintained with Israel, a relationship that distinguished them from all other nations.
The promise to give Egypt as a ransom for Israel, along with Cush and Seba (Isaiah 43:3), likely alludes to Cyrus, the liberator of the Jews (see Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1). These nations serve as examples of God's promise: "I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life" (Isaiah 43:4). Israel's enemies would fall, never to rise again, while God's people would have a glorious future because of their glorious, merciful God.
A key principle emerges from these verses: God's dealings with people are shaped by their relationship with Him. This resonates profoundly today, reminding us that our connection with God influences how He interacts with us.
God's Unique Power and Israel's Witness (Isaiah 43:8-13)
Isaiah returns to a recurring theme: God's unmatched ability to know the future, a direct consequence of His being the one true God. The call for witnesses evokes the imagery of a courtroom (Isaiah 43:9-10), where God challenges the nations to present evidence of their gods' ability to predict "former things" (Isaiah 43:9). The futility of idols is starkly contrasted with the reality of God's power.
Israel, as God's servant, is also called to testify, to function as a witness (Isaiah 4:10, 12). They can truthfully declare that the Lord—and not some foreign deity—alone has saved (Isaiah 43:12). This truth stems from the fundamental assertion: "Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me" (Isaiah 43:10). Israel's very existence served as proof of God's declaration.
God is the only Savior—for Israel and for the world: "Besides me, there is no savior" (Isaiah 43:11). Seeking salvation elsewhere is a futile endeavor.
A New Exodus and Covenant Faithfulness (Isaiah 43:14-21)
Isaiah reiterates God's promise to deliver His people from captivity in Babylon and return them to their homeland (Isaiah 43:14). This act will be a demonstration of God's covenant faithfulness and mercy, not a reward for His people's merits.
The promise in Isaiah 43:18-19 would have surely evoked memories of the exodus from Egypt, where God rescued their ancestors from slavery and led them through the wilderness. However, this exodus from Babylon would surpass the former, restoring the Jews to their land after being exiled for their sins.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland" (Isaiah 43:19). This signifies that even though the journey from Babylon to Israel would traverse treacherous terrain, God would pave the way, ensuring their safe return.
God's Justice and Saving Grace (Isaiah 43:22-28)
Lest any doubt linger regarding the justice of God's severe punishment of His people, God invites Israel to challenge His case: "Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state your case, so that you may prove your innocence" (Isaiah 43:26).
God's charge is twofold. First, Israel had grown weary of God and neglected to honor Him with the required sacrifices (Isaiah 43:22-23). Second, Israel had burdened God with their sins, wearying Him (Isaiah 43:24).
Ultimately, God plans to rescue His people. He will blot out their transgressions and remember their sins no more. However, this act of salvation is not based on their righteousness or their faithfulness to the covenant. (In these aspects, they had utterly failed.) He will save them "for my own sake" (Isaiah 43:25). Despite Israel's unfaithfulness to the covenant, God remains faithful. This is an act of pure grace, highlighting God's commitment to His own name and character.
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.
I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
Isaiah 43 offers a powerful message of God's unwavering love and commitment to His people, even in the face of their unfaithfulness. This chapter seamlessly blends promises of future restoration with reminders of God's unique and exclusive power. It's a testament to His grace, inviting both Israel and us to reflect on His character and our relationship with Him.
God's Redeeming Love (Isaiah 43:1-7)
Following pronouncements of judgment upon Israel, God consistently offers assurances of future redemption and ultimate restoration. Even amidst necessary discipline, He reassures them, "I have called you by your name; you are mine" (Isaiah 43:1). This declaration underscores the special covenant relationship God maintained with Israel, a relationship that distinguished them from all other nations.
The promise to give Egypt as a ransom for Israel, along with Cush and Seba (Isaiah 43:3), likely alludes to Cyrus, the liberator of the Jews (see Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1). These nations serve as examples of God's promise: "I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life" (Isaiah 43:4). Israel's enemies would fall, never to rise again, while God's people would have a glorious future because of their glorious, merciful God.
A key principle emerges from these verses: God's dealings with people are shaped by their relationship with Him. This resonates profoundly today, reminding us that our connection with God influences how He interacts with us.
God's Unique Power and Israel's Witness (Isaiah 43:8-13)
Isaiah returns to a recurring theme: God's unmatched ability to know the future, a direct consequence of His being the one true God. The call for witnesses evokes the imagery of a courtroom (Isaiah 43:9-10), where God challenges the nations to present evidence of their gods' ability to predict "former things" (Isaiah 43:9). The futility of idols is starkly contrasted with the reality of God's power.
Israel, as God's servant, is also called to testify, to function as a witness (Isaiah 4:10, 12). They can truthfully declare that the Lord—and not some foreign deity—alone has saved (Isaiah 43:12). This truth stems from the fundamental assertion: "Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me" (Isaiah 43:10). Israel's very existence served as proof of God's declaration.
God is the only Savior—for Israel and for the world: "Besides me, there is no savior" (Isaiah 43:11). Seeking salvation elsewhere is a futile endeavor.
A New Exodus and Covenant Faithfulness (Isaiah 43:14-21)
Isaiah reiterates God's promise to deliver His people from captivity in Babylon and return them to their homeland (Isaiah 43:14). This act will be a demonstration of God's covenant faithfulness and mercy, not a reward for His people's merits.
The promise in Isaiah 43:18-19 would have surely evoked memories of the exodus from Egypt, where God rescued their ancestors from slavery and led them through the wilderness. However, this exodus from Babylon would surpass the former, restoring the Jews to their land after being exiled for their sins.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland" (Isaiah 43:19). This signifies that even though the journey from Babylon to Israel would traverse treacherous terrain, God would pave the way, ensuring their safe return.
God's Justice and Saving Grace (Isaiah 43:22-28)
Lest any doubt linger regarding the justice of God's severe punishment of His people, God invites Israel to challenge His case: "Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state your case, so that you may prove your innocence" (Isaiah 43:26).
God's charge is twofold. First, Israel had grown weary of God and neglected to honor Him with the required sacrifices (Isaiah 43:22-23). Second, Israel had burdened God with their sins, wearying Him (Isaiah 43:24).
Ultimately, God plans to rescue His people. He will blot out their transgressions and remember their sins no more. However, this act of salvation is not based on their righteousness or their faithfulness to the covenant. (In these aspects, they had utterly failed.) He will save them "for my own sake" (Isaiah 43:25). Despite Israel's unfaithfulness to the covenant, God remains faithful. This is an act of pure grace, highlighting God's commitment to His own name and character.