Isaiah 43 … Consider Him Who Names Us His Own

Originally posted: 4/05/2021

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!” (43:1).

I couldn’t get past the first verse; nor did I want to. I am a proud mother of two, mother-in-law of two, grandmother (SoSo) of now four (and soon to be five); as well as aunt and great aunt to several. And if you spend more than two minutes with me, there’s a good chance you’ll hear about all of them. I love the blessing of calling them mine. As a teacher of more than twenty-five years, I don’t even think I can count the number of students I claimed as my own. Having the privilege of claiming children as my own is a gift; and I don’t take that for granted.

So, when I read the words of God, “I have called you by name; you are Mine!” I had to stop and catch my breath. I hope you did too.

Consider Him Who Names Us His Own

Another chapter too full to digest in one sitting. But in pondering this precious truth of being called by Name, of being called His Own, we will be swept off our feet with the unfathomable truth of Him Who Names Us His Own.

• He is the Creator, Who Redeems and Names Us His Own
  • But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
    And He who formed you, O Israel,
    “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name; you are Mine!” (43:1).

• He is our Omnipotent Protector Who Names Us His Own
  • “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
    When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
    Nor will the flame burn you,” (43:2).

• He is the Holy Savior Who Names Us His Own
  • “For I am the Lord your God,
    The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
    I have given Egypt as your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your place,” (43:3).

• He is the Incomparable God Who Names Us His Own
  • “You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “And My servant whom I have chosen,
    So that you may know and believe Me
    And understand that I am He.
    Before Me there was no God formed,
    And there will be none after Me,” (43:10).

• He is the Invincible, Sovereign Savior Who Names Us His Own
  • “I, even I, am the Lord,
    And there is no savior besides Me.
    ¹² “It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,
    And there was no strange god among you;
    So you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “And I am God,” (43:11-12).

• He is the Eternal, Indomitable God Who Names Us His Own
  • “Even from eternity I am He,
    And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
    I act and who can reverse it?” (43:13).

• He is the Holy Redeemer Who Names Us His Own
  • Thus says the Lord your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, (43:14).

• He is the Holy King Who Names Us His Own
  • “I am the Lord, your Holy One,
    The Creator of Israel, your King,” (43:15).

• He Who Brings Death to New Life Names Us His Own
  • “Do not call to mind the former things,
    Or ponder things of the past.
    ¹⁹ “Behold, I will do something new,
    Now it will spring forth;
    Will you not be aware of it?
    I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
    Rivers in the desert,” (43:18-19).

• He Wipes Out Our Transgression and Remembers Our Sins No More… And this is Him Who Names Us His Own!
  • “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,
    And I will not remember your sins,” (43:25).

How do we respond to Him Who Names Us His Own?

Did you find yourself asking, how can it be? How can it be that the Almighty Creator of the universe Names Us His Own? It really is too much to fathom. But He has declared it so; and thus it is.

And perhaps today, we saw too much of ourselves in the people of Israel. For, although He called them by Name, they did not call on Him, as though they grew annoyed and tired of His persistence in pursuing His Own.

“Yet you have not called on Me, O Jacob;
But you have become weary of Me, O Israel.
²³ “You have not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,
Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
Nor wearied you with incense.
²⁴ “You have bought Me not sweet cane with money,
Nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
Rather you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have wearied Me with your iniquities, (43:22-24).

But oh, how can it be, to grow weary of God? But, it is a hard question that must be asked. Am I wearied of Him? The answer lies in the way I spend my days. Am I honoring Him through sacrificial living? Do I choose my own self and sin over serving Him? If we are honest, we probably have to admit that we often grow weary in our faith and find ourselves striving to please ourselves rather than God.

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up, (Galatians 6:8-9 NIV).

God has called us by Name and He has called us to do good and to not grow weary through faith. And Paul told us how; we are to sow to the Spirit, cultivating our relationship with Almighty God through our time spent with Him, seeking Him in His Word, intentionally choosing to fix our thoughts on Him, and obeying the precepts of Him Who Names Us His Own. And in light of all He showed us today, how can we ever weary of serving and loving Him with all that we are?

Today, let us hear His heart that we would be strengthened to believe His love, His protection, and His promise that He is coming again to gather us to Himself; that we would not grow weary. And oh, let us always strive to please the Spirit as we consider the privilege we have to be called by Name, that we would be intentional to bring glory to Him Who Names Us His Own.

“Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
⁵ “Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
⁶ “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,
⁷ Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made,” (43:4-7).

Let’s Grow Together!