# 21 2016 Devotional Is.43:1bb The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Isaiah 43:1
“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”.
Isaiah’s career extended through the reigns of four kings in the Southern Kingdom of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah from around 740 to 686 B.C. Isaiah addressed the sins of the people: idol worship, the oppression and marginalization of the poor for personal gain and underhanded business practices that undermined God’s law. Isaiah clearly pointed out that superficial worship was the beginning of lawless social ethics. God also addresses the sins of the nations around Israel.
The character of Isaiah’s ministry blends fore-telling (seeing far into the future) with forth-telling (preaching the truth to a sinful people). The book ranges in its visions from Isaiah’s own times through to the end of time when God creates “the new heavens and a new earth” (Is. 65:17). Further, Isaiah fore-shadows the coming of the Messiah in the the prophecy to King Ahaz (Is.7: 13-14) and (9:1-8) that God would give him the sign the virgin’s baby, Immanuel (God with us) fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-24.
Ch. 43 is part of God’s grace proclaimed in Isaiah, ch.40-45. Broadly speaking the rest of the book is about God’s glory, His election, God’s forgiveness, His grace, and redemption, God’s salvation through His Servant (Jesus) which includes Israel and all nations and all people. God’s proclamation reaches back into the Old Testament Church, covers followers of Jesus today and reaches into the future to the end of time (Rev.7:9).
We move to the verse of the week. There is no doubt that the book of Isaiah is God speaking. There is no doubt that God created his people the same re-creation we as followers of Jesus experience. Also, there is no doubt that God chooses his people (Eph. 1:4-5). Verse one points back to the end of Ch. 42 where Israel is under punishment but in the next ch. God tells us not to be afraid:” Do not fear”. Fear is becoming an issue today, overseas Missions are curtailed, there is danger, we must deal with real danger, but there is also perceived danger that Satan is using to stop the work of the church. The level of danger in our own country is real, multiple people are shot every day, we only have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do we really believe that God takes care of his own? Ask yourself? God goes on to tell us that He has redeemed us, He has called us by our names, this is personal. He dispels our fear with “you are mine”, “if God is for us who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31-39) Danger, real or perceived is in God’s hands and believing that sets us free, and if that freedom ends our earthly life it is with God’s knowing and with His Salvation. Praise be to God!
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