Context No. 2933 of 4322 · Isaiah

Isaiah 43:1-13: in context

1But now the LORD who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel, says: “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you. 3For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4Since you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you, therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life. 5Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. 6I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’ and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back! Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.’” 8Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears. 9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified, or let them hear, and say, “That is true.” 10“You are my witnesses,” says the LORD, “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me. 11I myself am the LORD. Besides me, there is no savior. 12I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown, and there was no strange god among you. Therefore you are my witnesses”, says the LORD, “and I am God. 13Yes, since the day was, I am he. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?”

This is one of the great words of comfort in all of Scripture. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned. You are precious in my eyes, honored, and I love you.

The tenderness is overwhelming. God does not promise that his people will avoid the waters and the fire; he promises that he will be with them in them. The rivers will not sweep them away and the flames will not consume them, because he is there. And the ground of all of it is his claim on them: I have called you by name, you are mine, you are precious and loved. None of it is earned. It is the word of the Redeemer to the people he has bought, and besides him, he says, there is no savior.

When I face the waters and the fire, do I hear God's "you are mine, I am with you," and believe I will pass through and not be overwhelmed?

Sources

Isaiah 43:1: "Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine."
Isaiah 43:2: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you... When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned."
Romans 8:39: "Nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from God's love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."