Epiphany V--No Fear

[msethsmile]

Isaiah 43:1-3
Israel’s (Our) Only Savior

43 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.
² 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.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead.

v.1 Throughout the Bible, whenever God says 'don't fear'; He always gives a reason..."You are mine."--free from hell. How? Keep reading.

v 1 Again God mentions the Trinity thru their functions: create, redeem, summon (call). Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some pretty good credentials.

v.2 "I will be with you." Huge, simply huge. Immanuel = "God with us". God tents with His people. He knows our (your) needs.

v.2-3 Satan (the father of lies) gives us half truths."You will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen 3:5b). He neglects to mention God's wrath and separation from Him, and death. In these verses we get the whole truth from God. His wrath has been (past tense) poured out on Christ. No wrath left. In that forgiveness, we will be with God in perfect fellowship for eternity. Man is reconciled to God.