Isaiah 43:1-7 (NKJV)
You Are Mine
May 19, 2024
Before the kingdom was overthrown by Assyria, then by Babylon and then by Persia the children of God had stopped calling upon the LORD. The Israelites had grown weary of Him (verse 22). Their worship may have been lavish but was often only outward and formal. In exile, Isaiah prophesied a generation would grow up without the burden of the sacrificial system. God did not weary them with ritual, but they burdened Him with their sins, and wearied Him with their iniquities (verse 24). Yet, with or without the temple and its worship, the LORD remains the same. He blots out His people’s transgressions for no other reason than the glory of His own name. In chapter 40 there is a dramatic shift in the prophecy where God calls upon Isaiah to write, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,” saith your God. Judah still had 100 years of trouble and disobedience before Jerusalem would fall, and then 70 years of exile. So God tells Isaiah to speak tenderly and to comfort Jerusalem. The seeds of comfort often take root in the soil of pain. This prophecy of Isaiah is during a very dark time in the Southern Kingdom of Judah, but out of the darkest of times, God’s Word comes as a message of hope to them thru Isaiah. Chapter 42 ends with God's sorrow over the spiritual decay of his people, but in chapter 43, God says that despite the people's spiritual failure, He will show them mercy, bring them back and restore them. He would give them an outpouring of love and not wrath. Then the world would know that God alone had done this.
I. v. 1, 3-4 THE PAST – God reminds Israel of what He has done for them. It was there said that Jacob and Israel would not walk in God's ways, and that when he corrected them for their disobedience they were stubborn and laid it not to heart; and now one would think it should have followed that God would utterly abandon and destroy them; but no, the next words are, But now, fear not, O Jacob! O Israel! I have redeemed thee, and thou art mine. God's goodness takes occasion from man's badness to appear so much the more illustrious. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). In Ephesians 2:2 it says, Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). Notice 3 great ministries God has performed for every believer in the past. “I have redeemed thee” – They are the people of his purchase: he has redeemed them. Out of the land of Egypt He first redeemed them, and out of many another bondage, in His love, and in His mercy; How much more will he take care of those who are redeemed with the blood of his Son?!?! They are His peculiar people, whom He has distinguished from others, and set apart for Himself: And yet the Apostle Peter says, (1 Peter 2:9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; So, when we came to Him by faith, He was willing to receive us just as we were and through pure grace forgive us and save us. “I have called thee by thy name” - When God says He called them by their “name” it implies an intimate knowledge of who they were and what they are now! When they became His, He changed their name because He had changed their relationship. The same is true with us. What were we called in times past? – lost, children of the devil, sinners, the wicked, the children of wrath, the damned. BUT, what are we called now? – Saints, Children of God, The Redeemed, Saved, Citizens of Heaven. John 10:2 says But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When we think of what we were and what Jesus has made us, it ought to cause us to shout! “Thou art mine” - God reminds the Israelites that He has taken possession of them, and they are His alone. Just like us, when we came to Jesus, we were received just as we were, John 6:37 says, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out!” At the very moment of salvation, Jesus took possession of our lives and now, we belong to Him – And nothing can ever change that status. 2 Timothy 2:14 says, He “who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all sin and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
II. v. 2 THE PROVISION - In this verse, God reminds the Israelites that He has met their need since day one and that He has pledged Himself to continue to do just that. These circumstances reference famous events in the history of the nation when God intervened and provided their need. When they Pass through the Waters – Moses and the crossing of the Red Sea – Exodus 14. When they Pass through the River – Joshua and the crossing of the Jordan – Deuteronomy 4. When they Walk through the Fire – Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) – Daniel 3. Going through waters of hardship, rivers of difficulty, or the fires of adversity will either cause you to live in fear or force you to grow stronger. If you go in your own strength, you are more likely to fail. If you invite the Lord to go with you, He will provide. What does this mean for us? Just that God has not changed! What He did for Israel, He can be counted on to do for you and me! He will, meet every need you have for His own glory, ”And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:19. Whatever the need, God stands ready, willing and able to take care of that situation. 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. He also says that He will make all the interests of the children of men give way to the interests of his own children: "I will give men for you,” great men, mighty men, and men of war, and people ALL for YOUR life. God gave other nations to Persia in exchange for returning the Jews to their homeland. Egypt, Ethiopia, and parts of Arabia (Seba) had attacked Persia, and the Persians defeated them. Because GOD LOVES YOU, NATIONS shall be sacrificed for your provision!
III. v. 5-7 THE PROMISE - In these verses, God reminds His people that they have a bright future. He promises to gather them together and bring them back to their promised land. In the millennium this will become a reality. Israel will again rest in peace and the chosen people of God will occupy all that is theirs. While these verses speak primarily to Israel, again, there is application for you and me. We too live under the hope of His promises. He chose you - Ephesians 1:4 ”just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,” He loves you - 1 John 3:1 ”Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” He will never leave you - Matthew 28:20 “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave you nor forsake you." He will come back for you – GOD will say to the North, Give Them Up, to the South, Don’t Hold Them Back, from the East to the West, I will Gather You! - John 14:3 “I go and prepare a place for you, [and] I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” One day, Jesus will return as the two angels said in Acts 1, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
