Day 255: Isaiah 43- Power In the Person And Promises of God

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;  I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God,  the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you,   peoples in exchange for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” 8 Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears! 9 All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true. 10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,    “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed,  nor shall there be any after me.

11 I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. 12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God. 13 Also henceforth I am he;  there is none who can deliver from my hand;  I work, and who can turn it back?” 14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I send to Babylon   and bring them all down as fugitives,   even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice. 15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,  the Creator of Israel, your King.”
 
16 Thus says the Lord,  who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise,   they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 18 “Remember not the former things,  nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;  now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The wild beasts will honor me,  the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,

21     the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. 22 “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! 23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings,   or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings,  or wearied you with frankincense. 24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins;  you have wearied me with your iniquities.
 
25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. 26 Put me in remembrance; let us argue together;  set forth your case, that you may be proved right. 27 Your first father sinned,  and your mediators transgressed against me. 28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary, and deliver Jacob to utter destruction and Israel to reviling.
 
Meditation
Food for thought? God gives a gracious portion in which we can marinate our minds.  Peace, hope, strength, and power to endure are available when we mine the riches of revelation, soaking our souls in the person and promises of God.
 
Isaiah 43 is full of revelation concerning the person of God:
 
I am the Lord, your God who created and formed you (1)
I am everywhere (2)
I am your Savior (3)
You are precious in my eyes- I love you (4)
I am with you (5)
There is no other God but Me (10)
No one can deliver you FROM my hand (13)
I am your creator and king (15)
I am doing a new thing (19)
 
The revelation of WHO God is deepens the power of God’s promises:
 
When you pass through the waters and fire- You will be OK (2)
I will bring you home, gathering you to myself (5)
I want you to know me, believe in me, and understand I alone am God (10)
No one can deliver you FROM my hand (13)
I send turbulence for your own sake (14)
I will make a way forward, a path in the sea (16)
I will make a way in the wilderness, streams in the desert (19)
I am shaping you by your circumstances to declare my praise (21)
I blot out your sins for my own sake. I will remember your sins no more (25)
 
Richly Dwelling
-What does your mind meditate and marinate on? What does your soul soak in? How is that working for you?
 
-What revelation of the person of God speaks intimately to you? Which promises provide the most power?
 
-Spend time throughout today intentionally meditating on the person and promises of God revealed by Isaiah 43.
 
Key Verse
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”