God Promises to Rescue His People

Isaiah 43:1-7

While the reference in Isaiah Chapter 43, verses 1-7 are explicitly aimed at Israel, the mere fact that in this inspired Word God also refers to the Israelites as His people. I mention this because we to, the Gentiles with what Christ Jesus has done are God’s people, God’s chosen and therefore we can implicitly hold onto the promises in this powerful message of rescue.

So while verse 1 starts of with... “Israel, the Lord who created you says… Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are mine.”

We too can trust in these same words as if to say Oh ye Gentiles, the Lord who created you says… “Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are mine.”

What a powerful opening statement from our Father God creator of all, that he has redeemed His Children and has called each of us by name!

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 43

43:1 he who created you, Jacob Yahweh is responsible for both Israel’s creation as living beings and their formation as a nation. Isaiah uses creation language to emphasize God’s power as Creator and His special attention to His chosen people.

I have redeemed you God already identified Himself as their Redeemer in 41:14. Now, He reminds them of the relationship between Redeemer and redeemed. The exiles have no reason to fear, because salvation is assured.

I have called you by your name Isaiah’s speeches throughout this section emphasize Yahweh’s special choice of Israel (see Isa 41:8–9; 45:3–4).

And then in verse 2, Isaiah goes on to say… “When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you.”

What powerful promises of God’s protection for his Children! Neither flood nor fire shall harm them, nor will any trial bring forth harm to them. It is as if God is saying as later said in Ephesians that he is our Armor, and his Armor is also buoyant as it can serve as a flotation device to guard us from the deep waters and likely an allusion to Israel’s passing through the Red Sea!

And God is quite serious about his promises to the Israelites as in verse 3 he says… “For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you. I will give up Egypt to set you free; I will give up Ethiopia and Seba.”

For a little Geographical context, in verse 43.3: the areas referred to were known as the Hebrew Cush: Cush is the ancient name of the extensive territory south of the First Cataract of the Nile River. This region was called Ethiopia in Graeco-Roman times, and included within its borders most of modern Sudan and some of present-day Ethiopia (Abyssinia).

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 43)

God redeems His chosen people even at the cost of the other nations. This is a metaphorical ransom invoking the idea that redemption required payment. It does not reflect a historical or eschatological (es·chat·o·log·i·cal) giving over of the nations to save Israel

Now again this statement is not intended to be literal and eschatological (es·chat·o·log·i·cal) is of theological nature and concerned with the final events of time. In this context it implies that giving up means that there will be a sacrifice like perhaps that which would be to come some time later with Jesus Christ of whom Isaiah often prophesied and Jesus often referenced the book of Isaiah and his fulfilling certain scriptures.

And then Isaiah goes on to say in the final verses starting with verse 5... "Do not be afraid—I am with you! From the distant east and the farthest west I will bring your people home."

The verse 6... "I will tell the north to let them go and the south not to hold them back. Let my people return from distant lands, from every part of the world."

And in closing verse 7... "They are my own people, and I created them to bring me glory.”

What stands out to me an how this is relevant to us today is that God is metaphorically saying I will draw my people from all other and I view the reference to land as to Himself! He will prepare a plan which would lead to Christ to ultimately make this possible for all even the Gentile and for those who would put there trust in him, would become the Children of God and be led to their true home and in right relation through Jesus Christ!