Isaiah 43:1 says, 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. I believe that this refers to those who were spiritually the descendants of Jacob and not everyone who was physically one of his descendants. God doesn’t redeem people based on physical birth but on a spiritual rebirth. Though Jesus Christ had not yet come, it was because of Jacob’s putting his faith in His coming that he was redeemed and when the people of Israel remained true to the covenant that God made with Jacob they were also redeemed by their faith. Through Matthew Henry makes it sound like they were God’s people regardless of their refusal to put their faith in Him, I believe this refers to those who did turn to Him in repentance and faith.
Verse two adds, 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. Isaiah said that God would be with them when they passed though the waters and the fire. I think of the people of Israel leaving Egypt by passing thorough the Red Sea without getting wet and the three Hebrew children thrown into the fiery furnace who were not burned. We serve this same God, so we have no reason to fear. He has already defeated even our most powerful enemy, which is death.
Verse three continues, 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. God reminded them of Who He is. He is the Lord our God, the Holy One of Israel and our Savior if we have accepted His gift of salvation and entered into a covenant relationship with God. He was also God Who gave them victory over their enemies, and He still is God Who gives us spiritual victory over all our enemies.
Verse four concludes, 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. God said that the people of Israel, I believe who remained faithful to Him since it says they were honorable, were precious in His sight and He would give them the victory over their enemies. Once more, I don’t believe all the people of Israel were saved, but only those who put their faith in God were, even if all may have been precious in God’s sight. Jesus died for the sins of everyone, because people are precious in God’s sight, but only those Who put their faith in Jesus Christ will be redeemed to God.
Verse five states, Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; God told them not to fear, because He was going to gather the people of Israel together once more. We as followers of Christ will one day be gathered from all over the world to go to our heavenly home.
Verse six adds, 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; Isaish started by saying God was going to bring His people from the east and west home, and now He added the north and south. God said He would bring His sons and daughters home from the ends of the earth. As Christians, we have that same assurance that when Jesus Christ returns, no matter where we may be in the world, He will bring us home to be with Him forever.
Verse seven continues, 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. God said this applied to all who were called by His name and reminded them that He was the Creator of all, so He alone had the power to do this. We can be saved only by accepting the free gift of salvation given to us when Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of all people for all time, so He is the only One qualified to do this. Not only is God the Creator of everything, He is also the only Redeemer that there is. We just have to accept His gift of salvation.
No comments:
Post a Comment