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by Sandy Shaw
In Isaiah Chapter 43 we read these opening words - “But now, this is what the Lord says”. It is good to take a moment to remember that this is one of the main reasons for our being together at worship – to hear what the Lord God Almighty says. We come to hear what the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ wants to say to us – what God has to say to us.
This is what the Lord says, after all these people had been through, and after all the suffering, as a result of their own sin and rebellion. God still wants to speak to them and they continue to be His chosen people.
After this period of exile – these seventy years as prisoners and captives in Babylon – God wants them back in Israel – back in Jerusalem. He created them – He gave birth to Jacob – Jacob's name was changed to Israel.
God had warned them as to what would happen if they did not listen to the prophets whom He sent – but they paid no attention they would not give heed nor listen
But now, God is going to do something new – something very different.
When God sent Jesus into the world He was doing something knew – something very different.
God was going to redeem or buy back His people. He was saying – you have been punished – that is over – He was going to rescue them – so do not be afraid.
So often we need to hear these words – do not be afraid – I have called you by name – you are mine. God had created this nation. God had raised up this nation – called this nation – beginning with that one man Abraham – and nowhere has God gone back on His word. Nowhere do we read that He has changed His mind about Israel
We can apply much of that to our own lives when we know that Jesus called us. If God could change His mind over Israel, He could just as easily change His mind over us – but He doesn't change His mind regarding whom He calls – but He wants an intimate one to one relationship with His people with people. I am going to get you out of Babylon and lead you back home.
All this does not mean that life will be easy and painless and trouble free, but when you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you sense the pressures of these surging waters, and if you feel you could just suddenly be swept away – swept off your feet – thinking these waters might engulf you – you will not be overcome – you will not drown, for I am with you. They could be waters of adversity or fires of affliction. Apply these possibilities to yourself.
When you walk through the fire, and sometimes it can feel like that – these flames, whatever they might be, will not destroy you.
The New Testament says they will purify you – they will purge you of the dross – impurities will be removed. I Peter Chapter 1 . It can be in trying times that God deals with our rebellion and through the problems which can be like scorching flames. It is then He removes that desire to rebel – you will not be destroyed you will not be consumed
Verse 3 – The Holy one of Israel describes who our God is. What are sentence – we could spend the whole time trying to unpack and understand just part of what all that means. The Holy one of Israel is one of Isaiah’s favourite phrases for God.
God lets His people know that they are precious to Him – and why – because He loves them – He raises up people and calls them and gives them names. They are precious and honoured in His sight. There are no limits to the length God will go, to have a people, and He buys us not with silver or gold but with blood. Read again in Peter’s letters – I Peter Chapter 2verses 9,10 .
On the cross, Jesus shed his blood, all of it, and died to buy us back for God the Father. Jesus took our sins and sicknesses and rejection and shame and poverty to offer us forgiveness and healing, so that we can be accepted by Him and receive His abundance.
“Lord our God – our heavenly Father – help us not to miss what You are saying to us in these present times – Your Word is always relevant – and never out of date. We thank You, Father, for Jesus – for his miraculous birth, and right through to Pentecost, when Jesus baptised these disciples with the Holy Spirit, and empowered the Church. Hear us as we bow, giving thanks and praise.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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