Isaiah 43:2,25-27

Isaiah 43 is a big chapter and has so much in it that it is impossible to give even a summary overview worthy of it in a page or two. There are so many truths that are wonderful to see. It is a chapter of God reassuring Israel that He will carry them through. He will restore them, and always love them. It is the chapter where the song ‘fear not’ comes from (I love that song!). As we realize, when we sing the song, we make the application to ourselves, whereas the intended audience was originally Israel. God has redeemed them, called them by name. Notice that it doesn’t say ‘I won’t let you pass through waters or rivers or fire’. It says

‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.’ (Isaiah 43:2)

It is God’s promise of faithfulness through all manner of ill. Through whatever life throws at us, or we throw at ourselves (which I think happens much more often, don’t you?). It tells the Israelites that their descendants will live all over the world, to the East, West, North and South, but that God will faithfully gather them all back to Israel, His chosen people. That is yet to happen in fulfillment. The whole chapter emphasizes and re-emphasizes God’s faithfulness, His goodness, His mercy and His love towards Israel. He says He will do anything for them. He reminds them of His promise to ‘do a new thing’, that is, come as the Messiah to save them form their sins once and for all!

But He comes back to the unfaithfulness of Israel. It is a great contrast. The first 21 verses are a massive testament to God’s faithfulness, and then the last 7 verses show the unfaithfulness, the sinfulness, of Israel. But they joy is in verse 25:

‘I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for my sake;
And I will not remember your sins.
Put me in remembrance;
Let us contend together;
State your case, that you may be acquitted.’ (Isaiah 43 :25-26)

God blots out our own sins for His own sake. We must see that, I think. All glory is for God. All honour and praise is to God. What God does, He does for Himself, for He is the only One worthy of it. Does this mean He doesn’t really love us? No, not at all! It honours Him that He loves us! We love Him because He first loved us. Our love of God gives Him praise and glory, and that is our purpose. I don’t find any dissatisfaction in that.

So, how can God blot out our transgressions?

‘Your first father sinned,
And your mediators have transgressed against Me.’ (Isaiah 43:27)

God is of course talking to Israel here. So what have we over Israel? Who is our mediator? God Himself! Jesus never transgressed, so He is our perfect mediator, worthy of taking God’s punishment.

All praise to God! Such a wonderful promise He has given us. Such a wonderful hope. Let us not cease in praising Him, day and night, both with our tongues, thoughts, and actions. Anything else is stubble in the fire.