“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. 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. 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. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.”
Introduction
These verses from Isaiah 43 speak to God’s people in a time of testing and rearrangement—a call to remember who God is, what He has done, and what He will yet do. The speaker is not a distant judge but a redeemer who knows His own, calls them by name, and invites them to trust Him in the midst of exile, threat, and upheaval. The message is both historical and personal: God has formed Israel for His glory, redeemed them at great cost, and pledges to be with them through waters, rivers, and fires. It is a word that invites courage, repentance, and renewed faith, anchored in the character of the Lord who is sovereign, gracious, and faithful.
Historical-Cultural Context and Authorship
Isaiah prophesied to Judah in a period spanning the 8th century BCE, addressing moments of moral drift, political danger, and looming exile. The middle section of Isaiah (often called Second Isaiah, chapters 40–55) shifts to a tone of consolation, consolation that rests on God’s unique sovereignty and redemptive power. In this passage, God speaks as the Creator, Redeemer, and Holy One, reminding His people that earthly power and status do not define them; His calling and glory do. The language uses courtroom and courtroom-like witness motifs—“Bring forth the witnesses...,” “Ye are my witnesses...”—to emphasize that the true testimony is God’s saving acts and the vocation of Israel as a light to the nations. Although spoken to a specific historical situation, the themes—redemption, presence, and divine sovereignty—transcend time and speak to readers today who face fear, loss, or change.
Characters and Places
- The Lord (YHWH): Redeemer, Creator, Holy One, Saviour, and King who speaks tenderly to His people.
- Jacob/Israel: Personified figures representing God’s covenant people.
- Babylon and the Chaldeans: Representing exile and judgment, mentioned as instruments of discipline.
- Egypt, Ethiopia, Seba: Nations named as objects of ransom or redemptive action.
- The nations: The broader peoples called to witness God’s power and glory.
- “My witnesses,” and “my servant”: A chosen people and a servant whose knowledge of God leads others to believe.
Explanation and Meaning of the Text
- Deep identity in God: The text begins with intimate address—God created and formed Jacob and Israel, and calls them by name, affirming that they belong to Him. This identity is the foundation for trust.
- God’s promise of presence: When facing waters, rivers, or fire, God promises to be with His people. This is not mere rescue from danger but companionship through danger, underscoring His steadfast presence.
- Redeemer’s action and motive: God has redeemed, ransomed, and loved Israel, demonstrating that salvation flows from His own character and purposes, not from human merit. The line “I am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour” sets God in sharp contrast to idols and declares exclusive sovereignty.
- A declaration of glory and witness: God’s acts are public, credible, and designed to reveal His glory. Israel is called to be witnesses who know, believe, and declare Him as the true God, the Creator of Israel.
- Call to repentance and fidelity: The text contrasts God’s patience with Israel’s frequent neglect and warns of the consequences of sin, while also offering forgiveness (blotting out transgressions) for the sake of divine purposes.
- A call to faith in new things: God speaks of doing a “new thing” and making a way in the wilderness, signaling hope beyond former expectations and a reorientation toward trust in God’s future work.
Devotional
In days when fear rises with the news of changing circumstances, Isaiah 43 calls us to pause and re-anchor our lives in the truth that God knows us by name and delights in us as His own. If you feel distant or overwhelmed, remember that you belong to the Creator who formed you, redeemed you, and calls you His. Let this assurance quiet your heart and steady your steps as you walk through whatever waters or fires you face today.
May the reminder of divine presence transform your posture from trembling to trust. God is with you in the wilderness, providing rivers for renewal, and He invites you to witness His glory through your life. As you turn from fear toward faith, allow Him to unfold a new thing in you—doors opened, paths made, and a faith strengthened to declare that He alone is savior and sovereign over all.