Isaiah Chapter 43

Israel’s Only Savior

¹ But this is what the LORD your creator says, Jacob,

                        the One that formed you, Israel,

                        “You don’t need to be afraid, because I’ve redeemed you

                              and called you by name. You’re mine!

                        ² When you pass through the sea, I’m with you;

                              when you cross rivers, they won’t flood over you;

                              when you walk through fire, the flame won’t burn you;

                        ³ because I’m the LORD your God,

                              the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

                              I’ve given Egypt to ransom you,

                                    Nubia and Seba in exchange for you.            

Is 43:1-3

                        ⁴ Since you’re precious to me,            

                              since you’re honored and I love you,

                                    I’ll trade other people in return for you,

                                    others in exchange for your life.

                        ⁵ You don’t need to be afraid, because I’m with you;

                              I’ll bring your offspring from the east and west.

            ⁶ I’ll say to the north, ‘Give them up!’

                        and to the south, ‘Quit holding onto them.’

                  Bring my sons and daughters from distant countries—

                        ⁷ everyone that wears my name,

                              that I’ve created for my honor.”             

Is 43:4-7

            ⁸ Bring out the blind, though they have eyes,

                           and the deaf, though they have ears.

            ⁹ Gather the nations; assemble the peoples.

Which of their idols can tell about the past?

                  They need to present witnesses to justify themselves

                        that what they say is true.

            ¹⁰ “You’re my witnesses, Israel,” the LORD says,

                           “the servant I’ve chosen

                        so you can know me and believe me,

                        and understand that I’m the only One;

                  no god ever existed before me;

                        none will exist after me.

            ¹¹ I’m the LORD;

                        there’s no Savior but me.

            ¹² I’m the One that predicted it, did it, and proclaimed it

                  before there was any foreign god among you;

                  so you’re my witnesses,” the LORD says;

                  “I’m God.

            ¹³ From eternity I’m God;

                  No one can take anyone away from me;

                  no one can undo what I do.”                               

Is 43:8-13

The LORD’s Promised Victory

            ¹⁴ This is what the LORD your Rescuer says,

                  “To help you, I’ll dispatch an army against Babylon

                        to drive them out as refugees

                              in the ships they’re proud of;

                        the Babylonians’ celebration will turn into mourning.

            ¹⁵ I’m your King, Israel’s Creator,

            ¹⁶ who made a path through the Red Sea,

                        a road through the flood,

                  ¹⁷ who brought out in Egypt horse and chariot,

                        army and soldier.

                  They all lay down at the same time, drowned,

                        snuffed out like a flickering wick.                  

Is 43:14-17

            ¹⁸ But don’t just recall those former things

                        or ponder the past.

            ¹⁹ Duly note something new I’m doing now;

                  it’s happening; see it?

                  I’m making, like before, a highway in the wilderness,

                        streams in the desert.

            ²⁰ Wild animals will honor me,

                        jackals and owls;

                  because I’ve put water in the wilderness

                        and streams in the desert

                        so my people can drink.

            ²¹ The people I created for myself at that time

                                    will one day declare my praise worldwide.   

Is 43:18-21

            ²² “Yet recently you haven’t called on me for help, Jacob;

                        you’re tired of me, Israel.

            ²³ You haven’t brought me the sheep for your burnt offerings

                        or honored me with your sacrifices,

                  though I haven’t burdened you down with offerings

                        or worn you out with incense.

            ²⁴ You haven’t bought any calamus for me

                        or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.

                  Instead, you’ve burdened me down with your sins;

                        I’m tired of your iniquities.                            

Is 43:22-24

            ²⁵ “I, yes, I am the One that will erase

                                    your transgressions for my own sake

                        and not hold onto your sin against me.

            ²⁶ Remember me; let’s debate our case together;

                        state your evidence for being innocent.

            ²⁷ But from the time of your first ancestor

                        through your subsequent leaders,

                        you’ve sinned against me.

            ²⁸ So I profaned the priests of the sanctuary;

                                    I delivered Jacob to total destruction

                              and Israel to lasting contempt.                

Is 43:25-28