Isaiah 43:1-13

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. 6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” 8 Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears! 9 All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true. 10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. 11 I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. 12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God. 13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

Target Date: Sunday, 29 December 2024

Thoughts on the Passage:

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

He has two relative identities toward His people:

The Creator – and He identifies Jacob for that genesis.

The One who formed you – the One who made you into a great nation.

He accomplishes three things here:

The redemption of His people.

The calling of His people.

The possession of His people in safety.

I have called you by name – the calling of God is particular and specific to His people, not a general call to “whosoever wants to...”

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

This, obviously, is not a declaration of super-human abilities for His people.

Fire is still a threat, as is drowning, as are all the dangers of this world.

This is a promise that God’s PEOPLE will endure.

It is not a PERSONAL promise, but a corporate promise.

“Do not fear [v.1]. I will hold you on earth and in heaven [v.1]. And though all hell come against you and harm some of you, My witness will not disappear from the earth.”

The comfort spoken here is not that WE will be untouched by the world and the curse in it, but that the CHURCH will not cease until the Day of our Lord. His PEOPLE will endure, perhaps even grow, in the face of otherwise withering persecution.

His people will endure because in verse 10, He declares us “His witnesses”.

Notice that the trials of this world are not “IF”, but “WHEN”. They WILL occur, they will come upon you through God’s providence.

But those great things that will scatter and destroy the nations of earth will serve to concentrate and refine the people of God.

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

Notice the double “your”: YOUR God, YOUR Savior.

He belongs to them; they belong to Him.

There is no nation of earth God loves like His people.

These were the wealth of the South – food and gold and armies.

Yet God is saying He would exchange all of them for the sake of His people.

There is an extravagance in the extent of God’s love for His people – no price is too great to pay for their salvation.

How much more could He demonstrate that love than by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, His Servant?

And in delivering a salvation that requires nothing from us beforehand – no glimmer of worthiness, no promise of success.

His salvation is all of grace and mercy, with His righteousness provided to us as a result of His salvation, not in anticipation toward it.

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life

“I love you”

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. - Hosea 11:1

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” - Malachi 1:2–3

This is the only direct statement by God in the Old Testament of God’s present love for His people.

Many times in the Torah, God is said to love His people, but always from the third-person POV; this is the only first-person present statement of the fact.

The Hebrew here is not necessarily “present tense”, but the context indicates a present statement. The “perfect” (qatal) shows a full and complete action.

Coupled with the imperfect verb “give” (“I am giving” or “I will give”), it isolates the time frame to the present. Assuming a past perfect for love, it would still read “I have loved you; I am giving men in return for you…”. Thus, the time frame is in the present even in this configuration – God’s love is present.

I give men – while this is an apt translation, there is more here.

Men – is singular (adam); in return – “instead”

This points also to the second Adam given for the sake of His people.

Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,

everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Your offspring – your seed, the descendants from you.

This is not necessarily, contra the Jewish commentators, those who has been dispersed in the Assyrian and Babylonian captivity. While there may have been a shadow of the truth, this gathering from all points of the compass, is the calling of the entire world of God’s people to the salvation provided in Jerusalem, namely the salvation of Jesus Christ.

We are beneficiaries of God’s work that began with Abraham:

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. - Romans 9:4–5

At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. - Romans 15:25–27

Those God has called by His name are created for His glory.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. - Luke 15:4–7

Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!

All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true.

Those who are blind but have eyes? Those who see the works of the Lord and yet do not bow the knee or worship Him.

Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. - John 9:39–41

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.

I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.

I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

The greatest work of the Lord often comes through means that cannot be mistaken for coincidence or merit.

But even if the world tries to make vain explanations, we are His witnesses – we have seen the work of His hands and the provision of His love.

Declared, saved, proclaimed – the works of God in salvation.

Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

In the prior verses, God reminds His people of His great works of the past. But we should not make the mistake of thinking His great works are JUST in the past.

God answers prayers.

God moves on behalf of His people.

He still hears the cries of your heart.

His grace to you did not end with your salvation or justification;

Even though if that was all He did, it would be sufficient grace for a lifetime.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:7–11

Sermon Text:

[Read Isaiah 43:1-13]

This morning, let’s begin by looking at the central point of this text:

Christian, God loves you.

That may at first seem to be obvious – like saying “your mom loves you” - but so many Christians have a really hard time really grasping and holding on to the truth that God loves you.

But for the Christian, one who is called in Christ, the truth is an eternal truth – God loves you.

And our passage this morning is a description of how God has proved that love for you.

For some who wonder about God’s love, they look at their sin in the light of our holy God and begin to despair about how God could love us.

Maybe they see the depth of their own sin.

Maybe they are scarred and victimized by someone else’s sin.

Many is the Christian who can see God only as the great declarer of the Law, the righteous judge before whom we shall stand and give an account.

And they are correct – that is who He is.

He is holy, perfect, Spirit, and all-powerful.

We are glorified mud-balls.

Or, as Augustine put it: “Adam’s sinful lump”

Our best works? More mud.

But as we read this passage a few minutes ago, where in it did you find God saying He loved us because we were lovely, or beautiful, or worthy, or loveable?

In the very first verse, God declares what HE has done – not us:

Created you,

Formed you,

Redeemed, ransomed you,

Called you BY NAME,

Claimed you for His own.

The promises He makes are not made because you are anything except a human mud-ball He has chosen to be His.

We look at people and think some are more significant than others.

That if this person died, there would be a LOT of people in the world mourning;

But for another, there might be few who even noticed.

But our significance, whether famous or unknown by the world’s standards, is found only in this: the love of God.

If you have the love of God, you have greater worth than millions of other mud-balls who do not have God’s love.

We see that in verse 3: I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

Egypt, Cush (Ethiopia), and Seba (Sheba) were the nations to the south, nations that had wealth, reputation, earthly power, and plenty of food.

These represented the breadbasket of the ancient world and the trade routes that made men rich.

Their armies caused many other nations to flee or cower.

Their population dwarfed little Judah, particularly after the conquest of Assyria had ravaged the Northern Kingdom.

And God says that He would give all of those lands for the sake of His beloved people.

All the pagans and atheists and self-righteous Pharisees of this world do not lay claim to any part of God’s love.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated...” - Malachi 1:2–3

But look right there in the middle of verse 4 - three little words, spoken by God to His people: I LOVE YOU.

I am not aware of another place in the BIBLE where God, the Father, makes this same declaration.

He says “I have loved you” several times, most often in relating the works of love He did that were rejected by His people.

Moses writes many times in the Law about the love and mercy of God toward His people.

In the New Testament, Jesus, God the Son, declares His love.

But listen to the tenderness of God the Father here in this verse:

you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

He has given ample evidence of His love throughout the prophecy of Isaiah, but this is personal, tender.

This is God declaring His heart toward His people, unworthy though they may be.

And nowhere is this demonstrated more clearly than on the cross of Jesus Christ, where God gave THE man in return for His people.

The man, Christ Jesus, given in place of His people to redeem them from the curse of sin and this sinful world.

To make them more than just another mud-ball.

To restore us to His image, to recreate us in righteouness, to bring us to Himself in glory forever.

All that says “I love you” in a way no one else can.

v.11 – I am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior.

But some might think this is just talking about some promise to the nation of Israel.

After all, He begins talking about Jacob and Israel.

There are many brothers who might look at this simply as a promise to the nation of Israel in the last day that God will not forget them.

That His promises are sure.

But look at what He says in vv. 5-7:

I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

East, west, north, and south – God is calling ALL His people here.

Not just those who had been scattered by Assyria;

Not just those who would be scattered by Babylon and Rome.

EVERYONE who is called by God’s name.

Everyone on whom He has placed His name.

Everyone who He has called out from among the nations.

He is talking here of nothing less than what we know at the CHURCH.

We are the descendants, the children of Abraham through faith:

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. - Romans 9:4–5

At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. - Romans 15:25–27

The assembly of ALL His sheep, from every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Jew and Gentile, Greek and barbarian, slave and free, male and female.

Everyone on whom the love of God has been placed from before the foundation of the world.

He tells us in vv. 10-12 when this occurred:

Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

Before any sin had happened, before any false god had been made in the hearts of men,

God ALREADY declared, saved, and proclaimed His people and His salvation.

And the way of that salvation, through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And we are His witnesses, declaring God’s glory to those who will repent and to those who will reject the message.

It need make no difference to us as we obey outside of our authentic love for those we speak to.

We cannot know from the outset what the attitude or reception of the gospel will be among those we preach.

Some, no doubt, will have been marked by God, created in the first place, to be His people, and our proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be used to bring them to Him.

And others, no doubt, will reject the message of the gospel for one reason or another;

But they will reject it mostly because the gospel of Jesus Christ can only be received by people the Spirit makes alive.

But before we finish this morning, I do want to point out one more thing: God’s grace did not stop with your salvation.

I will freely confess that if saving me was the ONLY kindness God ever showed me on this earth, it would be infinitely more than I deserve,

But God’s grace and mercy doesn’t end there for His people.

vv. 2-3 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Not IF you pass through the water, IF you walk through fire – WHEN.

When the fierce difficulties and the crushing pain of life comes in, He is with us.

They will not overwhelm you.

You will not be consumed.

Paul even calls us mud-balls when he reminds the Corinthian church about this promise:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. - 2 Corinthians 4:7–11

Jars of clay – mud-balls – all the same.

But that is the point of trials – to show the surpassing love and faithfulness of God.

And we can come to Him with all our pain and fear and sin and trouble and unease and restlessness:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:15–16

The confidence we have when we draw near the throne of God in these times is that He will never cast us away, but that He WILL provide mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

If your fear of God keeps you away from Him, that is neither obedience or faith. It is His very kindness that brings us to repentance.

It is His love, greater than our worth, that assures us of our place with Him.