Isaiah 44:1-3 God chooses not man!

God made a special promise to Abraham, saying that He would send a Savior, the Redeemer King, to live among the Israelites forever. Jesus is the first and the last of this promise. He’s the God of the past, present, and future. There’s no other God like Him. As the Creator of heaven and earth, He’ll never share His glory with anyone else. His word is absolute and unchanging. 

Isaiah 44:1-3

“Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant, 

And Israel whom I have chosen. 

2 Thus says the Lord who made you 

And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 

‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; 

And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 

3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, 

And floods on the dry ground; 

I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, 

And My blessing on your offspring;

It’s hard to fathom why people would worship creations of their own. In our society, money, power, and material possessions are worthless idols that don’t hold any real value spiritually. God, on the other hand, blesses us with an abundance, not just to meet our own needs, but also to share with those who have needs. We can either follow the rules like the Scribes and Pharisees, who followed the letter of the law but lacked love and were just making noise, or we can be like Jesus. Without a deep love for God above all and a genuine desire to love others, we can’t truly grow spiritually.

1 Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

The unbelieving world is the same today as it was in Biblical times. The believers, the Body of Christ, have no idea what God has prepared for those who love Him. Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of God, dwells in mere human believers. Holy Spirit reveals God’s  everlasting power and love to us who believe. Not in the wisdom of man but in the wisdom of God for they are only spiritually discerned. 

Exodus 33:19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 

God is gracious and shows mercy to whoever He chooses. 

Romans 5:19-21 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In Adam’s sin, the world was condemned, but in Jesus, the sins of the world were forgiven. Where sin was rampant, grace was freely given. God conquered the sins of the world through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, driven by His unwavering love for His creation. We only need to by faith believe! Carla

After the reminder in 43:2–28 that Israel deserved judgment for idolatry, the tone of Yahweh’s message shifts back to that of hope and restoration. They sinned, but they are still His chosen people—He will save them.

The servant here is corporate Israel. Jeshurun was a poetic name for Israel, found otherwise only in the two poems attributed to Moses (Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5, 26). It likely means “upright one.” Salvation comes with the promise of the Spirit, which will enable their descendants to enjoy the promised blessing because they will be wholly devoted to Yahweh. Faithlife Study Bible.

The call to listen immediately is featured in 42:14.  Thus says the Lord in this emphatic statement it emphasizes that God authored the prophecy and thus it is certain to come to pass. The Lord demands an audience with Israel because He is their Creator. Since the Lord is the all-powerful One, Israel had nothing to fear. Jeshurun, meaning “Upright One,” is a poetic word for the nation of Israel. Pour water may refer either to miracles during the exiles’ journey home or to blessings on those who had returned to the Promised Land. Moses prayed for the Lord’s Spirit to come on all Israel (Numbers 11:29); the prophets foretold it (Joel 2:28–32), and Christ fulfilled it (Acts 2:14–36). The NKJV Study Bible

Israel is here called Jeshurun, which means “the upright one.” Such only are Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile. Those that serve God he will own. He will help them over difficulties, and in their services. Water is the emblem of the Holy Spirit; as water refreshes, cleanses, and makes the earth fruitful, so do his influences the soul. This gift of the Holy Ghost is the great blessing, the plentiful pouring out of which God kept for the latter days. Where God gives his Spirit, he will give all other blessings. Hereby shall be a great increase of the church; thus it shall be spread to distant places. Was there any other Rock, or Protector, that could defend them? None besides could foretell these things to come, of which God by his prophets gave notice. All was set in order in the Divine predictions, as well as in the Divine purposes. Could any other have done so? Who can compare with Israel’s Redeemer and King? Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Isaiah 41:8–10 

“But you, Israel, are My servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

The descendants of Abraham My friend.

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

And called from its farthest regions,

And said to you,‘You are My servant,

I have chosen you and have not cast you away:…

Deuteronomy 32:15 

“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked;

You grew fat, you grew thick,

You are obese!

Then he forsook God who made him,

And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

Isaiah 43:5 

Fear not, for I am with you;

I will bring your descendants from the east,

And gather you from the west;

Isaiah 44:21 

“Remember these, O Jacob,

And Israel, for you are My servant;

I have formed you, you are My servant;

O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!

Joel 2:28 

“And it shall come to pass afterward

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions.

The true gospel does not say we must work to earn God's grace and forgiveness; it says Jesus has completed the saving work on the cross! In light of Christ's sacrifice for us, we walk by faith in Him. We carry His Good News into our workplaces, homes and social gatherings. And every time we bring Christ into our communities and conversations, we have an opportunity to handle His Word rightly. As we each live out our faith before a watching world, we are called to "do [our] best" (2 Timothy 2:15) to honor God's Word and live by its Truth. First5 

“Pilgrimage is a symbol of life. It makes us think of life as walking, as a path.” Pope Francis

Isaiah 43:1-4 In Abraham all nations are blessed

May I walk this day

in the realm of grace,

walking with You

my feet firmly on your earth-path,

my heart loving all as kindred,

my words and deeds alive with justice.

May I walk as blessing,

meeting blessing at every turn

in every challenge, blessing,

in all opposition, blessing,

in harm’s way, blessing.

May I walk each step in this moment of grace,

alert to hear You

and awake enough to say

a simple Yes.

Robert Corin Morris

God knew that a remnant of faithful believers would remain true to the Covenant He made with Abraham. He  already planned  that His only begotten Son, Jesus, would come to redeem the world. Through the blood of Christ, mankind is offered the gift of redemption.

Isaiah 43:1-4 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.

God, the sovereign and righteous Lord, reigns over His creation. He provided redemption through His birth, death, and resurrection. Those who believe in Him will find eternal life. God purchased us with the blood of Christ, driven by His love for His creation. 

He is the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, our Savior. Rejecting God diminishes His power in our lives, but He is never farther away than our repentance, turning back to Him in love. We possess free will and choose who we will serve. Without our Creator, we are deaf and blind to the love He offers through the redemption of the blood of Christ. Like Job, we must acknowledge that in ourselves we can do nothing, but in Him, nothing is impossible. The knowledge of God was revealed to the Israelites, and they were chosen to be a testimony to the world, proclaiming the truth that there is no Redeemer King except Jesus, the all-man, all-God. His overwhelming purpose is to bring those He loves back to Himself. 

Romans 11:2-6 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

God will never abandon His chosen people. He will preserve those who faithfully followed His commands, a remnant of those who rejected idols. Even in this day and age, there are individuals who believe in the salvation bestowed upon them by faith in Jesus Christ. We are the Body of Christ. Carla

Yahweh is responsible for both Israel’s creation as living beings and their formation as a nation. Isaiah uses creation language to emphasize God’s power as Creator and His special attention to His chosen people. God already identified Himself as their Redeemer in 41:14. Now, He reminds them of the relationship between Redeemer and redeemed. The exiles have no reason to fear, because salvation is assured. In Exodus 6:6–7 Yahweh similarly promises to redeem Israel and take them as His people. Isaiah’s speeches throughout this section emphasize Yahweh’s special choice of Israel. Continuing the poet’s emphasis on the return as a second exodus, this is likely an allusion to Israel’s passing through the Red Sea.  God redeems His chosen people even at the cost of the other nations. This is a metaphorical ransom invoking the idea that redemption required payment. It does not reflect a historical or eschatological giving over of the nations to save Israel. Redemption in the Old Testament often required payment. The use of the Hebrew term for “ransom” (kopher) alluded to the price paid in exchange for a life. The census tax required a ransom from each person. A murderer was not allowed to pay a ransom to avoid punishment (Numbers 35:31). However, according to Psalm 49:7, only God could ordain a valid ransom of life. Faithlife Study Bible

Thus says the Lord emphasizes the Author of the prophecy and the certainty that it will be fulfilled. The words created and formed allude to the creation of the human race in Genesis 1; 2. The Hebrew verb translated created means “to fashion anew”—a divine activity, and is the same key word used in Genesis 1:1. The second verb formed means “to shape,” to fashion as a potter, and is used in Genesis 2:7 of God fashioning the body of the man from the dust of the earth. The use of these verbs here suggests that the Lord’s creation of Israel as a people was as decisive an act as His creation of human beings at the beginning. 

In the same way, the New Testament describes Christians as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephephesians 2:10) The Lord’s use of name demonstrates His intimate relationship with the Israelites. He had revealed His name to the people (Exodus 6:2–8) and declared their name to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:22). Pass through the waters is an allusion to the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan River. 

Walk through the fire is a metaphor for protection in danger (Psalm 66:12); consider the Lord’s protection of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:25–27). 

The God of all creation declares Himself to be the God of the Israelites; He had every right to be their God and to call them His people, because He had saved them from the Egyptians. The Hebrew word for Savior comes from the verb meaning “to save,” the word from which the name Jesus is derived (Matthew 1:21). 43:4 Israel is considered precious because of God’s sovereign grace (Deuteronomy 7:6–8). The NKJV Study Bible

Psalm 66:12 

You have caused men to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

Daniel 3:25–27 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire…

Isaiah 43:7 

Everyone who is called by My name,

Whom I have created for My glory;

I have formed him, yes, 

I have made him.”

Isaiah 45:3–4 

I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the LORD,

Who call you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.

For Jacob My servant’s sake

And Israel My elect,

I have even called you by your name;

I have named you, though you have not known Me.

Isaiah 43:21 

This people I have formed for Myself;

They shall declare My praise

2 Timothy 2:10 (ESV) "Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." First5

We have the power of God in our daily lives for our good and the good of others

 May the peace of God fill you with His love for you and all of His creation. In Jesus we have hope for an eternity filled with the graciousness of God in our ordinary everyday lives who gives us Holy Spirit for guidance in all areas of it. I am full of gratitude for the love of the Father who cared enough to send Jesus to offer us salvation! We are able to love because He first loved us. Carla

1. Allegiance.

First, Paul used the example of a soldier to talk about allegiance: "No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him" (2 Timothy 2:4). Soldiers have to surrender many things to live up to their calling and obey their commanding officer. In the same way, as followers of Jesus Christ, when our hearts are aligned with His, our allegiance to Him breeds opportunities for others to observe His work in our lives and for us to share our faith.

2. Actions.

Our allegiance to the Lord overflows into our actions: the way we live. Paul said "an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules" (2 Timothy 2:5), and we live by God's rules or commandments. But we don't do this out of fear of condemnation. Our obedience comes from our love and gratitude for Jesus.

Other people can witness our faith in action when:

● We are gracious instead of bitter, even toward our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

● We pray (Matthew 6:9-13).

● We refuse to gossip (Ephesians 4:29).

● We forgive (Ephesians 4:32).

● We display the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25).

These are just a few examples, but God has given us His Word as the go-to manual for how to live faithfully and fulfill His command to love Him and love people (Matthew 22:37-40).

3. Attitude.

Lastly in today's passage, Paul talked about "the hard-working farmer" (2 Timothy 2:6). This really points to a humble attitude. The farmer does many things that aren't glamorous and that no one sees but that he knows are important for a good harvest. This is so crucial for us to remember as believers because our attitude often contributes to our actions. It's important to pause and ask, Am I doing this for the approval of others or out of love for God?(Galatians 1:10).

Sharing our faith can sometimes mean talking through our testimony. But let's remember that while words are powerful, the way we live is a testimony too. Sometimes people don't care to know about our Jesus until they see the reality of Jesus in our lives. First5

Sometimes we need a different way to measure what really matters.

This brings to mind my mentor, Lew Smedes’ reminder, "Gratitude dances though the open windows of our hearts. We cannot force it. We cannot create it. And we can certainly close our windows to keep it out. But we can also keep them open and be ready for the joy when it comes."

Living one open window at a time.

I once did a workshop where I asked the participants to describe life. One woman said, "Life is so… life is so… life is so… daily."

Yes. She's right. And that is the secret.

The miracle is that there need not be a miracle—just a slow drip of experience. Being mindful of small things; the ordinary is the hiding place for the holy.

Places where we are able to receive. And places from which we give: wholeheartedness, joy, grief, compassion, sorrow, kindness, grace, forgiveness, gladness.  And until I understand that truth (until I take it to heart), I miss the point.

Or, in the words of William Kittredge, "Moments when nothing happened. What sweet nothing."

In other words, we don't run from the moment (even moments that unnerve and distress).

We don't suffocate the moment with stuff (physical and mental).

We don't sanitize the moment with platitudes.

We sit. We listen. We look. We taste. We smell. We see.

We look for the light of God in the most ordinary, and even the most dull, of contexts. Sabbath Moments