God said he has set aside other nations for Israel. He loves them. And will be with them. He has called them by name.
“I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you” (v. 2)
Why?
“Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and I love you. I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life” (v. 4).
And then he speaks of Aliyah – the Israel that is scattered among the nations will be brought back “home.” And indeed this is happening.
Israel is God’s chosen.
But now he makes his case. The Gentile nations and even some of Israel had worshiped and served other gods. He says plainly,
I am He. No God was formed before Me, and there will be none after Me. I, I am Yahweh, and there is no other Savior but Me v. 11.
God is the Great I Am, the one who is unformed, the one who is eternal. Not like the gods made by human hands and then worshiped.
The LORD continues on to say that Babylon will become fugitives in their own ships. And that for Israel God would make a way for them in the sea through surging waters. He makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Perhaps as if to answer as to why they were in captivity in Babylon for so long, God answers. He says to them they did not call on him, because they had become weary of Him. God says you are the ones who burdened me, with your sins.
But then God says that he will forgive them, for his own name’s sake. And he would remember their sins no more. But if there is any doubt why he brought judgment, a court of law would easily prove Him true.
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There’s so much here in this chapter.
- He spoke to Israel that the would rescue them from the fire and the water. Certainly many have claimed that verse for themselves, and there’s a truth to this. He does rescue us. In many ways at various times. This word is reiterated in the New Testament where Paul says
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Cor 4:8-10).
He does carry us and rescue us. Always? Yes and no. This verse was mainly that Israel as a nation would survive, and God would protect them.
But what about individually? In one sense he protects us our means of salvation. Live or die, we are his. But does he protect us in all things at all time? No. If that were the case we would never die. At present we still live in a fallen world.
So is it right to claim this verse for ourselves? In our own situations? Hm…. - He has a special place in his heart for his people. Pre-Christ that was Israel and post-Christ that is Israel with the church grafted in (Rom 9). Sometimes people and nations are displaced so that the people of God can be established. This is the work of God. God’s children are precious in his sight and the objects of his love.
- In the previous chapter he said,
“The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur” (Is 42:9).
He acknowledged there is a history there. But he says to them in this chapter,
“Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming” (Is 43:19).
There is the sense of we must recognize and acknowledge the past, but there is a time to move on. Forget the past and what is behind, and press on to that which is new. - At times when we don’t understand, we must acknowledge that God is just in all his ways. We can in a sense “take him to court” and every time we will lose. But we also must know that character of God. He is a just and holy God. He will discipline his people when they need it. But he is also a God of great love (v. 4), and one who forgives even when we don’t deserve it (v. 25).
