In the previous study, we opened by thinking about the idea of theology. Who God is in our minds is important and it is also important to think about how we know these things about God.
Today, we are exploring a related theme — who are you in God’s mind? What would you fill in at the end of this statement: “When God thinks of me, He thinks ______”. What do you think God thinks about you? How do you know? How does this change when we go through difficulties?
(A) A new name: God’s redeems and preserves His people through judgment (Isa 43:1-2)
Isaiah 43:1 begins with a “but now”, which indicates a change of events. Earlier, in Isaiah 42, we’ve a sense of the situation that the people are in. The LORD who gave them up to exile now has a word for a people in exile. Notice how here, it is the LORD who is speaking. This is the covenantal name of God and the people are to remember how He makes and keeps His promises.
It matters that the Lord is saying this because they are in exile and no longer in the land that God brought them to. Yet, in Isaiah 42:24-25, God wanted them to know that it was the LORD who was also behind their circumstance.
But before the word comes, they are remember who He is and who they are in relation to Him – a people He created and formed.
Earlier, in Genesis 35:9) In Genesis, we read of how Jacob was renamed Israel. The forefather of God’s people was not a great man. He was cowardly and not a strong leader and it is to this man that God makes the promise that He will make of him a people.
God has been encouraging His people to fear no throughout Isaiah. In Isaiah 41:10-11, we are told that they are not to fear for “I am with you, I am your God”. There is no need to fear because God is with them. They are not to fear the nations that are incensed and striving against them.
Again in Isaiah 43:1b-2, we read that they are to fear not because God has “redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine”. Here, they have been redeemed — they belong because a price has been paid for them. Their relationship came at a cost. God’s judgment, depicted through the waters and fire is the object of their fear. God is redeeming them and paying the cost through His judgment. Judgment will be meted out but they will not be overwhelmed. This is the word that God brings to His people.
A final “fear not” is mentioned in Isaiah 44:2-5.
What we see from these verses is that, to a people in exile, God’s first word is a word of belonging. He promises Himself – they are His, and He will preserve them through judgment. He doesn’t tell them that ther circumstances will change. They were meant to grow in the knowledge that it doesn’t matter if they gain the whole world but lose their souls. Kingdoms rise and fall, come and go. It won’t matter if they belonged to the world and enjoyed their riches if they are not God’s.
Notice GOd’s continual promise of His presence even though they experienced the harshness of heir possessions being taken away, or the lethargy of work in a foreign land, or even the curse of sin. He promises to be with them throughout the very judgment that His justice and righteousness requires. Is this the God you know? Is this the God you turn to in the midst of your struggles?
Friends, we are also far from home. We live and breathe the air of a foreign world and we are always experiencing a place that is not our home. And these verses are true for us too.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories away:
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou, who changest not, abide with me!
We can be assured that what God provides for us is His presence.
These verses also teach us that if we don’t fear and love these things, our loves and fears are disordered. Have you recognised the truth of the words in “My worth is not in what I own” — “as summer flowers we fade and die”. Why then, are these the things we fear?
Are you too comfortable in this world? All of this change and decay that we see is the way this broken world is. It is a measure of wisdom for us to reckon with that. And we need to see that God has also granted for us what we truly need — Himself.
(B) A greater name: the LORD pledges His love as the guarantee of redemption (Isa 43:3-4)
God grounds all His actions on His names. Why do these names matter and wWhat do they tell us about God’s relationship with His people? Firstly, as “the LORD" (Isa 43:3a), He is the covenant-making God, is still their God. They may have failed their end of the covenant, but He will not fail His.
Next, he is the Holy One, whose eyes are too pure to look upon evil and do nothing, is still of Israel (Isa 43:3). Now, God knows who they are and what He is getting Himself into, Their sinfulness did not sever the forming of His relationship with them, and it will not sever its continuance. How is that possible? It is possible only if He is their Saviour. He is here to save them.
How much time do you think about names like these? How familiar are you with this God? What do you think of God? It is worth all of our time, affection and attention to think about who this God really is!
Note that Isaiah 43:3-4 lie at the centre of this section. The emphasis here is how they are precious in His sight, honoured and loved. Now, we might readily accept this. It is a good thing that we know that God loves us. But let us also see the description of this people — blind, deaf, plundered and looted, trapped in holes, hidden in prison (c.f. Isa 42).
These people are not people that deserved to be described this way. This has been their story throughout all of time. (c.f. Deut 7:6-8) This is such a radical thought. God loves because they are unlovable. This does not square with our understanding of love. Just go to any wedding and we see that this love is based on something good and lovable. Even in the “self-love” movement, we are taught to love because there is something worth loving. Only a God who is Love Himself can declare this.
Truly grasping this love makes all the world of difference in our life today. If we know and rest in a love that we did not earn, we will be rested and secure.
There is such a love. So what? Think about what it means for your circumstances.
It gives us joy for we have a Creator that loves us and made us to be love. This touches the instinct of every heart. We are all made to know and to be known.
It also enables communion. Do you wonder if God delights in you and actually want to be with you, when sometimes, we don’t want to be with ourselves? Yes!
It establishes assurance. When we have done nothing to establish this redemptive love, it also means that there is nothing we can do to lose it. We cannot make God forgo His plans for redemption. It establishes the deepest assurance.
It kills identity idols. When we are told by the Creator that we have dignity, we are secure and no longer have to strive to secure it.
It slays lovelessness. Knowing this love spurs in us a new love. (c.f. 1 Jn 4:19) This is the basis for our love.
Egypt is mentioned here in Isaiah 43:3 to call to mind the great work that God did in the past for Israel. But, here, Isaiah also mentions Cush and Seba. The practical outworking of this love is a redemption and reversal reminiscent of, yet further than, the Exodus.
(C) A glorious name: ‘God with us’ gathers us for His sake (ISa43:5-7)
As God gives promise of gathering exiles home, we read once again, how God tells them to “fear not” (Isa 43:5). The assurance is that God is with them (Isa 43:5a, c.f. Isa 43:2). He also promises His presence, and how the people are really His (Isa 43:4a-5, c.f. Isa 43:1b-4). God restates His presence, their identity as sons and daughters, and His promise to gather them to Himself.
But here, there is an added element — the idea of God’s glory. The chief end of redemption is God’s glory (Isa 43:7b). It will be a glorious thing when God gathers us! God’s action in history has always been the same. He always gathers people for His glory. This is seen in the church. When we “go to church” on Sunday, God is actually gathering His people for His glory. We did not just free up space in our calendar for a good routine, and to be recharaged. Rather, when we gather, we gather as those who have been drawn to Himself, bought at a cost, and to reflect His glory. We may go about our lives living as though there are other glories to be found but this passage has shown us that we are undeserving and our glories really pale in comparison.
Our work is the work of pointing. We say that there is nothing in our hands that we bring, and in and of ourselves, we are not worthy of glory. We point to God, and His wondrous works.
How are we meant to relate to this God of glory today? Glory is also abstract and difficult for us to wrap our mind around today. John in the opening chapter of the gospel of John, helps us to see how we are to relate to this God of glory (John 1:14). The glory of God came in the form of Jesus. The word took on flesh and we glory in the grace and truth now seen in the Person of Jesus Christ.
There are many ways we can understand the phrase “I am with you”. He is not tagging along for the ride. He is also not just with us in spirit, but is really distant. He is with us by going ahead of us, and hiding us in His righteousness, satisfying our hearts with His love and giving us a new name and identity. If this truth is not clear, we will waver and assume that what God thinks of us will change with our circumstances.
Friends. we need to be clear about who our Redeemer is, and who we are in God’s eyes. As these verses in the hymn “I will glory in my Redeemer” go:
I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the holy Judge
The Lamb who is my righteousness
The Lamb who is my righteousness
My righteousness
I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I'm satisfied in Him alone
How will you respond to this Saviour today?