Coming after the closing words of chapter 42, Isaiah 43 brings hope to life. Even though God’s people, Israel, had been stubbornly rebellious and suffered the consequences of their willful ways (42:24-25), the Lord is not finished with His people. Chapter 43 begins with a message of hope: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (1). The Lord declares that He created the people of Israel and, in spite of their sinfulness, still cares for them (2-7).
Even though Israel will “pass through the waters” and “walk through the fire”, they will not be overwhelmed by the flood or consumed by the fire (2). Why not? Because the Lord is their God and Saviour (3). Israel is not just another nation to the Lord. He created and formed this nation for Himself and His glory (1, 7). As such, He promises to “give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you” (3). This doesn’t me the Lord has no concern for Egypt (see Isaiah 19) or the other nations of the earth (see Isaiah 26); it does mean that no nation has the place in God’s heart or plan like Israel (Deut 7:7).
Because of God’s covenant commitment to Israel, His people, the Lord promises to regather them after they have been scattered to the four corners of the earth. He will speak to the east, west, north, and south to call His people home (5-6). He calls them back to Himself because they are called by His name and created for His glory (7).
Continuing with the theme of calling people to Himself, in verse 8 we hear the Lord summon the nations and people of the earth. This summons, given to all the nations (including Israel), convenes a trial or formal disputation. The Lord will interrogate the peoples of the earth—blind and deaf as they are (8-9). He questions them, asking which of the peoples can produce witnesses that they or their gods knew the future: “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” (9). The implication is clear: none of the nations or their idols can bear witness to having known what was to come. Actually, there is one nation that can speak up; Israel is called to testify on behalf of the Lord. “ ‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord” (10).
Repeatedly in this section (43:1-4:8), the Lord calls Israel as His “witnesses” (10, 12, 44:8). He created them and works for them so they might bear witness to His greatness and bring Him glory (1, 7). No other peoples have a god like the Lord who knows, announces and controls the future (10-11). “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior; I declared and saved and proclaimed when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses” (12). As such, “there is none who can deliver” from the Lord’s hand or turn back His work (13).
Because the creator created and committed Himself to Israel, He promises to deliver them from the Babylonians. When Isaiah writes these words, Assyria was the ascendant world power (though Isaiah warned Hezekiah of Babylon’s rise and rule—39:5-8). Now the Lord speaks of a future time when He would deal with Babylon and deliver Israel. He announces He will “bring them [Babylonians] all down as fugitives” (14) and show Himself the “Redeemer” (14) and “King” (15) of His people.
Having promised to regather Israel from all places where they would be scattered (5-6), the Lord reminds His people of His previous redemptive work on their behalf. He is the One who brought them out of Egypt and through the Red Sea: “Thus says the Lord who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters” (16). He is the One who brought down the mighty Egyptian armies: “who brings for the chariot and horse, army and warrior, they lie down, they cannot rise” (17).
Although God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt was remembered as evidence of His great power, the Lord now promises to do a “new thing” (19). It will be so grand that Israel will no longer only bear witness to God’s work in former days: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old” (18). God’s new work of deliverance from Babylon will eclipse it by a new work of deliverance from Babylon.
To bring the Israelite exiles back home to their land, God will “make a way in the wilderness” (19). He who created all creatures, will have the “wild beasts” in the wilderness “honor” Him, presumably by not harming his traveling people (20). He will “give water in the wilderness” to make their journey home possible (20). He will do all this for His “chosen people” (20) so that the nation He formed for Himself might declare His praise (21).
The chapter ends with a reminder that God will do all this wondrous work for His people Israel in spite of their ungrateful hearts and sinful ways. Rather than “call upon” Him in praise and trust, Israel treated the Lord disgracefully. Instead of bringing Him their worship, they grew “weary” of Him (22). Rather than bringing Him their grateful sacrifices they burdened Him with their grievous sins (23-24).
The Lord promises to blot out their transgressions (25) but will still bring judgment on them for their repeated, entrenched sinfulness. Israel’s history is a trail of transgressions: “Your first father sinned, and your mediators transgressed against me” (27). Sin will have its painful consequences: “Therefore, I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and deliver Jacob to utter destructions and Israel to reviling” (28). Thankfully, the story doesn’t end here (though the chapter does); God’s covenant kindness will have the last word as He blesses His unworthy people, as we will see in the next chapter (44:1-5).
Behold Your God
The Lord created, chose, honoured and redeemed Israel for His own glory. Israel enjoyed a most privileged status among nations. Of all the nations of the earth, God says He created (1, 7), formed (1, 7), called (1), considered precious and honoured (4), loved (4), and redeemed (1, 14) Israel. And He says he did all this “for my glory” (7, 21). God’s ultimate goal centers on receiving the glory that He alone deserves as the only god, the only redeemer, the only savior (10-11). He alone should be worshipped for the glory of His greatness, goodness and grace.
The Lord is the only God who works in history to bring deliverance or demise. It is because of the Lord’s faithful love, that Israel is able to “pass through the waters” without being washed away or “walk through the fire” without being consumed (2). The Lord is Israel’s saviour (11) and Redeemer (14). Though he invites the people of the earth to tell of any other god who does what He does, none are found (9-10). “Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me” (10). He brings His people through, but He also brings down others (3, 13).
The Lord wants His people to be His witnesses to the nations. Israel serves as God’s witness to the world: “’You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord” (10). They are living testimony to His greatness, faithfulness and power. They are not to be silent or reluctant witnesses but are to “declare” God’s praise (20). Sadly, instead of witnessing and worshipping, Israel became “weary” of the Lord and weighed Him down with their sins (22-24). He deserves our worship and our witness!
Here Am I
I will call on the name of the Lord in declaration, in doxology and for deliverance. One of the Lord’s indictments of his people is that they “did not call upon me” (22). He wanted Israel to call on His name, and still wants that from us today (Roman 10:12-13). As one who has been graciously included in God’s people (Gal 3:26-29), I want to join those who “call on the name of the Lord.” Calling on the Lord is a declaration of that we belong to Him; we are called by His name (7) because He has called us to Himself (1,7). Calling on the Lord expresses worship, bringing honour and a sacrifice of praise to Him (22-24; Hebrews 13:15). Calling on the Lord signals our reliance on Him as our saviour and Redeemer; we look to Him for deliverance.
I will glory in the greatness of the One who created us for His glory. The Lord makes it clear that Israel (His people) were created for His own glory (7). This truth is our great hope. Because we, as the offspring of Abraham (41:8; Gal. 3:29), were created to showcase God’s glory, we are favoured by His grace. He is glorified through our deliverance and redemption! So, I glory in being able to bring Him glory. His glory is our great good.
I will be a witness for the One true God among the nations. The Lord called His people to be his witnesses among the nations (10). They are to testify to what He has done in predicting the future and fulfilling His promises. No other god is like Him; in fact, no other god exists (10). As one who has been redeemed, I want to speak of His goodness, grace and greatness to those around me. Let the nations hear and rejoice; there is a God who invites them to be part of His people and experience His glory (Rom 10:13-14). But how can they call on One of whom they have not heard (Rom 10:14-15). I must be His witness (Acts 1:8).
Rick and Linda Reed 