đź“– I Have Called Thee By Thy Name
In Isaiah chapters 40-42, the Lord God has rebuked His spiritual people (Israel) for gross negligence on their part to follow His Commandments and caused great oppression and other calamities to fall upon them for their sins. Isaiah Chapter 43 contrasts the previous chapters and tells of the outpouring of God's mercy and grace not because of Israel's own merits, but because and only because of God's grace.
We can look at Chapter 43 as the modern version of a parent saying, “…I'm punishing you for your own good! This hurts me more than it hurts you!” This can be made clear in verses 25-26 where God says He will blot out their sins, but not by their merit, but instead because of the Lord's own sake! Frankly, and without being irreverent, when our sins are blotted out of God's Record Keeping, it is done because He loves us but also for His own sake in other words for God's own peace of mind! It troubles God and makes God sorrowful when He has to punish us…the very same people who were meant to be His best friends!
My primary verse that I want to pull is Isaiah Chapter 43:1:
“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.”
This verse has meant a LOT to me the past several weeks! I have taken this verse apart and read this verse repeatedly in my devotions over and over again! Frankly, it never gets old! The very fact that God is telling His people (Israel) and us by extension (the spiritual Israel) that we don't have to be afraid of the punishment that was levied against the people who rebelled against God! Israel had learned their lesson and was ready to surrender to God and His Will! This meant God was able to get close to them again and fellowship like He had originally intended.
This verse and the verses that follow describe an elaborate map of the Love of God! It describes the extremes that God is willing to go to preserve His own people! It wasn't just because of God's wrath he brought the enemy nations low, it was because those nations hurt His people! He was willing to make any sacrifice for His OWN PEOPLE and FOR US! He literally called me by MY NAME (Jacob), told me to not be afraid, informed me that I was redeemed, and my sins blotted out of the Record Book, and then said the best words of all, “Thou ART MINE!”
I have read and reread this in the past several months because this never loses excitement to read! It never loses its potency in definition and how it describes MY relationship and YOUR relationship with God! God claims us! But to receive the benefits of His claim, we have to claim Him!
Because of this verse, there is little doubt in my mind that God cares about my problems! God cares about my sins! God has taken a very specific interest in my soul's well-being and my body that my soul lives in. God has left nothing to chance, in His plan for my individual redemption, my individual journey throughout life, and one day my final crossing through the Sea of Death!
There is nothing that we can't trust Him with! God has stretched out and weaved the Heavens into existence! He built an entire galaxy for the sole purpose of housing a small and insignificant solar system! He put in that solar system planets, moons, and a Sun in just the right places to support human life on a tiny blue and green rock! Not only that, but God crafted that human life and placed them on that rock to rule over all living things! But even the creation of us humans was not the true miracle and wonder of that sixth day of Creation!
The real wonder is that God breathed into man a living soul and guaranteed that soul (if we choose to) a place at His own side: in a mansion of jewels and fine linens, on streets of pure gold, and rivers of joy that trickle from mountains of love and mercies!
I don't know about any of you…but that doesn't sound like a God that forgets things easily! None of that sounds like a God that isn't concerned with even our simple and small needs! In contrast, Isaiah Chapter 43:1 says, “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!”
I have plenty of mountains that need to be moved, tunneled through, or hiked over. To me, they look insurmountable! However, I consider myself the impossible Christian. I cannot understand how God would want me, much less forgive my sins, BUT He does. So, in my opinion, the impossible has already been done!
Thanks for reading! I'm Curio, a creative writer, coder, and soon-to-be small business owner passionate about Open-Source and sharing unique ideas. Dive into more of my musings and reach out at me@jacobpeabody.com. Wishing you the best on your journey towards meaning!