So right now we are going through a book called "The Story" which is essentially excerpts that are taken out of the Bible. They are in chronological order and they depict the love story of God from old testament to new. It puts it a little more plainly so that people who don't have Bible college classes (me being one of those people) to figure out how everything fits together in the Bible, (not that you need Bible college to understand the Bible...but I'm sure there are things that I would understand more about the intricacies of the Bible, if I had studied it academically) this allows the story about how God loves people so much and is working on getting them back. I came across this group of verses in Isaiah today after I searched "you are mine". It really brought it home for me. So since I'm on for devotions at our staff meeting this week, I thought I'd write my thoughts down and share them with all of you. Thanks for reading.
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
~Isaiah 43:1-7 NIV~
As I was reading this, I was wondering whether there were any comments on this passage, when I came across the same verses in the message version.
1-4But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.
5-7“So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.
I’ll round up all your scattered children, pull them in from east and west.
I’ll send orders north and south: ‘Send them back.
Return my sons from distant lands, my daughters from faraway places.
I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman, and child
Whom I created for my glory, yes, personally formed and made each one.’”
~Isaiah 43:1-7 MSG~
Read that a couple times and just let the words sink in.
It's not very often that I use the message translation, but I really like how they spell it out very plainly.
A few things stand out to me: I love the phrase "You're mine". God says right there "You're mine". We're His. Could it be said any more clearly than that? We belong to Him...there's not if, ands or buts about it. He created us for himself...and the sooner we realize that this means...the sooner we lose our identity issues and find our self-worth in the one who created us for His purpose and glory.
I also love the part about how He is always with us: "When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place,it won’t be a dead end—" I need this so much. This assurance. This promise. That when life seems like it's too much to handle, that I'm not alone and the road doesn't end. That road will end in Heaven...so I'm never stuck. If this earth crumbles and life ends...Heaven awaits...
Also, the part of "that's how much I love you" and it goes into detail of just how much God loves us. We have the advantage of knowing that He did go to extreme lengths to get us back...with His son. Jesus died for us, for all our tendencies to go our own way, just because God desires us so much. As Pastor Deve put in His sermon...we are the bride that God desires. He wants us to want His love, just as a man wants his girlfriend to love Him and commit to Him...(but on a much bigger scale as God's love surpasses the love of a guy for his girlfriend). We can't compete with that kind of love, we have to simply fall into it and accept the love He lavishes upon us.
And lastly, "I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman, and child
Whom I created for my glory, yes, personally formed and made each one" --God won't just let us go our own way, He will pursue us. Remind us of His love for us at every turn. Through creation, through other people, through circumstances....He will use so many ways to remind us of His love. Wow. You can't push Him away. You can't lose Him. (You can walk away, push Him away, but He will always be there.....calling out to you). God wants us. He wants everyone that He has created, because He created each one of us for His glory. This also reminds me that we should also have this passion too....a passion to share this love of God with all people - God wants everyone of them to turn to Him. He created them. He loves them. That should be our passion too.
Just a few thoughts from me. Thanks for reading.
