Isaiah 43

CHAPTERS 43 AND 44THEME: Retrospectcreation, redemption, preservation of Israel; Prospectfuture judgment, deliverance, redemption of Israel; promise of the Spirit; polemic against idolatry; prophecy concerning CyrusThis section of Scripture, particularly chapter 43, reveals that God is not through with the nation Israel. It is tantamount to unbelief to deny that God has a future purpose for the nation of Israel. In the New Testament Paul asks the question, “…Hath God cast away His people?” And the answer is, “God forbid …” (Rom_11:1). That is a very dogmatic answer. God is not through with these folk, as He makes clear in the chapter before us.

Isaiah 43:1

RETROSPECTCREATION, REDEMPTION, PRESERVATION OF ISRAELThis statement is as clear-cut as it could be. God addresses the nation Israel in this entire section, and I do not think you could misunderstand Him unless you deliberately wanted to misunderstand. He speaks of their origin: “the LORD that created thee.” God took a sad specimen like old Jacob, whose name means “crooked"he was a supplanterand made a nation out of him. God took the dust of the ground, breathed into it the spirit of life, and it became a living human being. And that human being rebelled, but now God makes sons of God out of those who will trust Christ. That is my beginning, and it was a very bad beginning. I don’t accept the evolutionary theory that I evolved from a monkey; I came from something worse than a monkey! I came from a rebellious sinner who on the physical side had been taken from the ground. That first man passed on to me a fallen nature which will never be reformed or repaired. But God has given me a new nature. Beginning with Jacob, God created a nation. Then He redeemed them from Egypt by blood and power, and they became Israel, a prince with God. They belong to God because of creation and because of redemption.

Isaiah 43:2

This is a promise which specifically applies to Israel and the manner in which God delivered them in the past, for example, when they crossed the Red Sea and the Jordan River. It also has a marvelous spiritual application for all of God’s children in all times. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.” Sometimes in my experience I get into what I could call “deep water” when I can’t touch bottom. But I have the assurance that God is going through the experience with me. I think I’m going to drown, but He has promised, “they shall not overflow thee,” and He intervenes and delivers me.

Isaiah 43:3

He does not lower His high standard in salvation. How could God give Egypt and Ethiopia ransom for Israel? The answer is simple. God says in effect, “I used these nations to discipline you. I gave them, that is, I permitted them to treat you as they did, and now I will judge them.” In Pro_21:18 we read, “The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.” Have you ever wondered why God permitted the enemy to cross your path and cause you all the trouble he did? He did it in order to bring you into line and in order to develop you spiritually. God gave him for your deliverance. Pro_11:8 says, “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.” God has let several people really mistreat me, and I talked to Him about it. I thought God was treating me wrong, but I noticed that the Lord paddled these individuals, and I must confess that I was rather satisfied about it. The Lord used these people to straighten things out in my life, and then He straightened them out.

Isaiah 43:4

We cannot imagine how much God loves Israel. We cannot imagine how precious we are to God.

Isaiah 43:5

God states in clear-cut language that He will regather the nation Israel. In Jer_31:10 He reaffirms this: “Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” God says, “Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations.” What He means is this: “Hear the word of the Lord, ye liberals. Hear the word of the Lord, ye amillennialists, and ye postmillennialists, and ye premillennialistssome of you haven’t been quite sure whether or not I am through with Israel.” We are to listen to Him. Regardless of what the world situation might be, God says He intends to regather Israel. We have His word for it.

Isaiah 43:10

God has no competitor or equal. He alone is God. He alone holds this unique position.

Isaiah 43:11

It is interesting that of all the religions of the world only Christianity guarantees salvation. Others put down quite a program, but they certainly do not guarantee salvation. God says, “Beside me there is no saviour.” God now opens up the subject of idolatry.

Isaiah 43:12

God is saying, “As long as you will not go into idolatry or turn to that which will lead you away from Me, I will bless you.”

Isaiah 43:13

PROSPECTFUTURE JUDGMENT, DELIVERANCE, REDEMPTION OF ISRAELThe word let in this verse means to hinder. No creature can slip out of the hand of God or escape out of His reach.

Isaiah 43:14

The ultimate destruction of Babylon is foretold.

Isaiah 43:15

Surely it is inescapable that the nation Israel is the subject. God takes responsibility for bringing them into existence. Let every anti-Semite take note of this. He is their King. This is another affirmation of the deity of Christ, for He is their King. When the Lord Jesus came to earth and made His claim to Kingship, Israel knew that He was claiming to be Immanuel, “… God with us” (Mat_1:23). The instructed Israelite understood that. We have seen that God claims Israel because He created them. Now He speaks of the fact that even the beasts of the field honor Him.

Isaiah 43:20

I have a notion that even the animal world is a little more conscious of God than His creature man, who has fallen into sin.

Isaiah 43:25

God is saying that He intends to forgive them on the same basis that He has forgiven us.

Isaiah 43:27

This evidently is a reference to Abraham. Surely Scripture records his failures and sins. We have only to mention the matter of his lying to Pharaoh about Sarah, his wife. Thy teachers means “interpreters.” Those who interpreted God to the people had faults and sins. Remember Samson, Samuel, and David.

Isaiah 43:28

This is the present condition of Israel. They have no peace today because they have departed from the living and true God. This is not, however, their final state. Chapter 44 continues the theme of chapter 43. However, the last chapter closes with the dark mention of coming judgment. This chapter moves into the light of the coming Kingdom and the promise of the Holy Spirit. There is in this chapter a brilliant and bitterly devastating satire against idolatry. This is the recurring theme of this particular section. The human heart has a way of turning from God to some idol. Today, we do not go after graven images, but anything to which a person gives himself instead of the true God is an idol. It can be a career, the making of money, seeking for fame, pleasure, sex, alcohol, self-adoration, or business. These are our idols, O America! The high point of the prophet’s polemic against idolatry will come in chapter 46. There we shall have occasion to consider this subject further and to examine the real distinction between God and an idol.