Isaiah 43:1-13

For God’s people in this world there is no cast iron guarantee that they will not go through fire and flood. On the contrary, there should be an expectation that they will. It’s not a case of ‘if’ but ‘’When…when…When…’’ (2). Suffering will come. Hard times will pay a visit. Tribulation will knock on the door. But God calls His people to remember who He is (3a), how much He loves them (4a), that He is with them (2, 5), and has created them for His glory (1, 7). Therefore, if God is for them, who can be against them? So they are not to fear (1, 3a). None of this trouble takes God by surprise. He is working to a plan. ‘’This is inevitable. He is too transparently truthful to engage us without telling the nature of his service. Through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom.’’ F.B. Meyer: ‘Great verses through the Bible, p.285.

God’s love is a costly love (3, 4). In order to redeem or ‘’ransom’’ His people, God ‘gave’ Cyrus‘’…Egypt…Cush and Seba…’’ in their stead. Cyrus was later to conquer these countries. ‘’I paid a huge price for you : all of Egypt , with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.’’ The Message. When times are hard, and maybe we are tempted to question the love of God, it’s good to remember the ultimate price Jesus paid to redeem us; to buy us back from sin’s slave market.

God’s people must always keep in their minds and hearts their calling to be His witnesses (8-13). Those redeemed by Him should say so. He is the Almighty, awesome, overwhelming God who fills these pagers with His dominant presence. He has come to the rescue of His people. He is the true god and no idol. We are to testify that there is no other god, and no other Saviour. Of course, a large number of God’s people were spiritually blind and deaf, verse 8. See also 42:18-20. These people had nothing to say for they did not see. They could not comprehend. But all who have experienced God’s redemption and do understand, are called to be His witnesses in the world. ‘’Redeemed how I love to proclaim it…’’ Eventually, in the unfolding revelation of Scripture, the title ‘’my witnesses’’ was to have its full force (Acts 1:8). The point at issue here is the non-existence of any god but Yahweh, in ages past, present, or to come.

So, the people of God have been redeemed by God to glorify Him by witnessing to Him in this hostile world. This will not be always easy, but the Lord will never leave or forsake them, so there is no need to fear. The gates of hell will never prevail against the church. They will try, but they will not succeed!

Here, then, is a great thought to carry with you through the day ahead: ‘’When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end – Because I am GOD, your personal GOD, the Holy of Israel, your Saviour. The Message.

Prayer: May I never think that fire and flood mean you have abandoned me Lord. Amid burning and overwhelming problems, let me always know that you are with me.