Isaiah 43:1 – But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.

5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
I will gather you and your children from east and west.
6 I will say to the north and south,
‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel
from the distant corners of the earth.
7 Bring all who claim me as their God,
for I have made them for my glory.
It was I who created them.’ (NLT)

When we understand that ‘Jacob’ and ‘Israel’ were terms used to address the people of God, we should come to realize that they address us today.  With that understanding, what does this passage tell us today?  It tells us that ultimately, we have nothing to fear, for God has ransomed us (verse 1).  We know that the ransom paid for us was the life of Jesus. 1 Peter 1:18 – “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.”

What exactly have we been ransomed from?  We have been ransomed from the power of sin.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:56 – “For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Sin separates us from God, a death far more horrible than the loss of our earthly life.  Sometimes we lose our ‘eternal’ perspective on life.  While we all want a comfortable life here and now, the truth is that we were created for something greater than life here and now.  We were created for eternity, and the price for that privilege has been paid.  An existence of no pain and no suffering is promised – but not in this life. 

This passage encourages us not to fear what this life will confront us with, for this life is fleeting.  The Good News is that God will get us through this life.  Notice verse three – we are told that ‘when we go through’, and ‘when we walk through’ no harm will come to us. God does not promise us that difficult times in this life will disappear, but God does promise to be with us, and to bring us through the difficult times.

The greatest promise of this passage – for me – can be found in verse five: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” This is our promise for this day, for all our days to come, and for all eternity.  That is good stuff! 

Posted by Ramón Torres