Isaiah 43

Israel’s Only Savior

1 But now the Lord who created you, Jacob, the One who formed you, Israel, says: “Do not be afraid. I redeemed you. I called you by name. You are Mine.”

2 “When you walk through deep waters, I am right there with you. When you cross rivers, they will not drown you. When you walk through fire, you will not burn, flames will not take you out.”

3 “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I traded Egypt, Cush, and Seba to buy your freedom.”

4 “You are precious to Me. I honor you. I love you. I will trade nations just to save you.”

5 “Do not be afraid, because I am with you. I will bring your children from the east and gather them from the west.”

6 “I will tell the north, ‘Bring them here,’ and tell the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons and daughters from everywhere on earth.”

7 “Everybody who has called by My name, the ones I created, shaped, and formed for My glory, bring them.”

8 Bring out the people who got eyes but still blind, who got ears but still do not hear.

9 All nations gather up, everybody pull up. Who among them can explain what is happening or prove they knew this beforehand, Let them bring witnesses, they will not have any.

10 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord. “You are My servant I chose so you would know Me and believe Me. I am Him. No god existed before Me, and none coming after.”

11 “I, only I, am the Lord. I am the only Savior there is.”

12 “I told you what would happen, I saved you, and I proved who I am, no foreign god did that. You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God.”

13 “From everlasting I am He. Nobody can snatch anything from My hand, and nobody can undo what I do.”

14 This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I am sending judgment to Babylon. Their leaders are going to be crying out as I bring them down.”

15 “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

16 This is what the Lord says, the One who made a path through the sea and a road through deep waters:

17 Who brought out chariots, horses, armies, warriors, and laid them down, never to rise again, snuffed out like a dying flame:

18 “Forget the old stuff. Do not stay stuck on the past.”

19 “I am doing something new right now. Can you not see it, I am making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

20 “The wild animals, jackals and owls, going to honor Me, because I am providing water in the desert and streams in dry land for My chosen people.”

21 “The people I formed for Myself will declare who I am.”

22 “But you, Jacob, you did not call on Me. Israel, you got tired of Me.”

23 “You did not bring Me offerings or honor Me with sacrifices. I did not weigh you down with rituals or burn you out with demands.”

24 “You did not bring Me sweet cane or offer Me the fat of your sacrifices. Instead, you burdened Me with your sins and wore Me out with your wrongdoing.”

25 “I, yes, I, am the One who wipes out your sins for My own sake. I will not remember your sins anymore.”

26 “If you think you got a case, bring it. Let us talk. Show Me what you got.”

27 “Your first ancestors sinned, and your leaders rebelled against Me.”

28 “So I handed over your holy leaders and let Jacob be destroyed and Israel disgraced.”