1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee
Isaiah 43:1-3
Our text is part of one of the most comforting passages in Isaiah. In this context, these words are for Israel. The LORD has just declared that He will pour the fury of His anger upon those in Israel who refuse to walk in His ways (Isa 42:24-25). But now He is addressing the whole nation.
Does this mean that the comfort and assurance in our text is only for the nation of Israel, and not for us as individual believers today?
Well, in the first place, we must remember that the nation of Israel in Palestine today is not the Israel of God. The Israel of God is the church comprising Jews and Gentiles. Believers are part of the Israel of God today. Therefore, since the promise in our text is general, without any time limitation or geographic boundaries, it must apply to the church and its members today. So, this text is relevant for us as corporately as a local church, and individually as members of Christ’s church.
With that in mind, any one of us who believes in Christ and is anticipating severe trials may confidently draw comfort from our text.
Consider three comforting thoughts from it.
1. Fear Not, the LORD Made You and Redeemed You
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine
v. 1
Notice the synonymous parallelism, “That created thee, O Jacob” and “That formed thee, O Israel.” Israel is created by the LORD; so is the church; so is every believer. Says Paul, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor 5:17a).
Likewise, as the LORD redeemed Israel out of Egypt and bondage to Pharoah, He has redeemed the church out of sin and Satan. So Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.
Therefore, child of God, you do not need to fear. Jehovah, the maker of heaven and earth, has acknowledged that He made you and redeemed you. He called you by name and claimed that you are His. You have no reason to fear anything in this world!
2. the LORD Will Be with You when You Pass Through Waters or Fire
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee
v. 2
Can you think of a more assuring promise by the LORD? “I will be with thee!” “I will be with thee… through the waters [and] through the fire,” He says. He was with Israel of old when they crossed the Red Sea with the Egyptians at their heel. He was with them when they crossed the River Jordan. He was with Daniel’s friends when they passed through the fiery furnace so that even their clothes were not singed.
But His promise is not only in such extraordinary circumstances. No, no; fire and water denote calamities in the scriptures (cf. Ps 69:1; 124:4-5; 66:12).
He has promised. Come what may, the Lord will be with you who are united to His Son. You must believe it: He will see to it that you are not harmed through any trial you may experience.
3. You Are Precious to the LORD
For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee
v. 3
Who is making the promise in our text? Not Isaiah, but Jehovah, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour! And you can believe His word, for you are precious to Him. He redeemed Israel of old by punishing Egypt, Ethiopia and Seba.
You, on the other hand, were not redeemed with Egypt, Ethiopia or Seba as ransom. You were redeemed with something far more precious. Says Peter:
Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot
1 Pet 1:18-19
You are exceedingly precious. So precious that God sent His son to die for your sin so that you may have life. If that is so, do you even need to worry a little when facing the deepest and widest river, or the hottest fire?
Conclusion
It will be well with you, for the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken. You belong to Him. He will take care of you, for He loves you so much that He sent His son to suffer and die for you. It will be well with you, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
—JJ Lim