Isaiah 43:1-13: a reflection

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?”

In one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture, God speaks to his people words of belonging and presence. Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. And he promises his presence through every trial: When 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. God does not promise his people that they will face no waters or fire, no trials; he promises to be with them through them, so that they will not be overwhelmed. Because they are his, called by name, precious to him, he will be with them through every trial.

Notice the two things God promises: you are mine, and I will be with you through the waters and the fire. God does not promise his people a life without trials, without waters to pass through or fire to walk through; he promises his presence with them through the trials, so that they will not be overwhelmed or consumed. The waters will not overflow, the fire will not scorch, not because they are removed, but because God is with his people in them. And the ground of this presence is belonging: I have called you by name, you are mine, you are precious in my sight. Because they are his, God will be with them through every trial, keeping them through the waters and the fire.

That is worth resting in, for God is with us through every trial, because we are his, called by name and precious to him. We pass through waters and fire, trials that threaten to overwhelm us; and God does not promise to remove them, but promises to be with us through them, so that they will not overwhelm or consume us. And this presence rests on our belonging to him: we are his, called by name, precious in his sight. When you pass through the waters and the fire of trial, remember that God is with you, because you are his, and he will not let them overwhelm you. Take comfort that God is with you through every trial, the waters and the fire, because you are his, called by name and precious in his sight, as he says do not fear, I have redeemed you, you are mine, and when you pass through the waters I will be with you; for God does not promise a life without trials but his presence through them, and because we are his, he will be with us in the waters and the fire so that they do not overwhelm us.

Lord, in one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture, you speak to your people words of belonging and presence. Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. And you promise your presence through every trial: when 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. You do not promise your people that they will face no waters or fire; you promise to be with them through them, so that they will not be overwhelmed. Show me the two things you promise: you are mine, and I will be with you through the waters and the fire. You do not promise your people a life without trials; you promise your presence with them through the trials. The waters will not overflow, the fire will not scorch, not because they are removed, but because you are with your people in them. And the ground of this presence is belonging: I have called you by name, you are mine, you are precious in my sight. Because they are yours, you will be with them through every trial. Let me rest in that, for you are with me through every trial, because I am yours, called by name and precious to you. I pass through waters and fire, trials that threaten to overwhelm me; and you do not promise to remove them, but promise to be with me through them. And this presence rests on my belonging to you: I am yours, called by name. When I pass through the waters and the fire of trial, help me remember that you are with me, Lord, because I am yours, and you will not let them overwhelm me. Help me take comfort that you are with me through every trial, because I am yours, as you say do not fear, I have redeemed you, you are mine.