Scripture Reading(s)
Isaiah 43:1-7
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 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.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
6 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—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Reflections
The Lord’s words through the prophet Isaiah to the nation of Israel are probably a bit strange to someone unfamiliar with OT history. But it is quite encouraging.
Back when this passage was penned Israel had been under siege for a long period of time, first by the Assyrians and then by the Babylonians. They were being punished for disobeying the Lord but they longed for the coming of the savior, of the anointed one. Then there was promised a time of peace where God would lift them up among the nations and use them to bring ALL people to dwell under the shadow of the almighty.
We can be sure the God has this same care and affection for the church today. As He spoke to Israel through Isaiah “Do not be afraid, for I am with you;” God would also declare this message to His people today. Do not worry about whether or not the Lord will sustain you. Have faith that He will hold onto you until it is time to be called home.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27)
[Featured image from evangelove.com]