Isaiah 43 - I am your Savior

 Isaiah 43 - I am your Savior

I. Holy One of Israel (v1-7)

In this chapter, God have used the words "I am" multiple times. He defined his "track record" and his commitment to His people as an assurance that he will redeem them as what He has promised - both a rescue from the Babylons but also the ultimate redemption through his "servant", the Lord Jesus Christ. 

His first "I am" - "For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (v3). He was the One that they knew of for thousands of years, since Abraham. He is the Holy One and will not lie. He will be their savior, despite their unfaithfulness. 

In fact, God declared that their redemption has already been done, though liberation from Babylon and coming of Christ is still a long way to come. He said "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." (v1)

God did not love them because they had been holy or faithful but simply out of love: "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you." This must be words that have touched the hearts of the exiles. 

God promised that He will always be with them  and will bring them back again from all directions from the world. While Babylon is in the North, this may be a prophecy for another exile that happened in 70AD under the Romans Empire, where they were sent to all the nations until the United Nations gave Israel independence (1948) after World War II.

II. No Other Savior (v8-13)

God asked them to remember how He had been faithful to them, even from the beginning before they had other gods to the time where they were saved from slavery and into the promised land. 

The second "I am" - "I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior." (v11). Unlike verse 3 where He identify Himself as the savior, here is remind them that He only had been the only savior all the time. He was the one who provided everything, by approaching (declaring) them, saved them, and proclaiming his love to the them. If God acts, no one can go against Him.

III.  Creator of Israel (v14-21)

God maid it clear that the reason they have been exiled to Babylon was for their own good. It was a time where nothing else could have changed their idolatry and injustice. It was only after the 70 years of exile and return ("Aliyah" in Hebrew) were they cured of their addiction of idolatry.

The third "I am" - "I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” (v15) reminds them He was the one who created Israel and is His true King, and that He will never give it up. He was the one who brought them there in the first place when He defended them against the Egyptian. 

God is creating a new "way in the wilderness" in the "rivers in the wilderness" and "water for the chosen people".  Look at the how Israel is today, compared to when they were destroyed by the Babylonians and Romans. God challenge them: "I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (v19). Yet even today, many are still blind to how Israel has been saved time and time again by the Lord. 

IV. I will Not Remember Your Sins (v14-21)

God reminded them the sins that have brought them to this situation. Although God deserved honor through the sacrifice, he didn't bring disaster upon them just because they neglected them. Rather than bringing honor, they have only burdened Him with sins and iniquities. God wants them to remember the sins of their fathers and transgression of their mediators (teachers), that led to this eventuality.  

The fourth "I am": “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." (v25)

God made a choice to forgive them and will forget their sins. This "forgive and forget" is not just a mental decision but will cost God very dearly for sacrificing His Son at the right time in history.