Isaiah 43:1-13, NIV
Map stones: God, our Creator ; ..the redeemer vs 1; only Saviour …vs 3, 10; ..will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west…north…south vs 5; when he acts, no one can reverse it vs 13
Isaiah 43:1-13
[1]Israel, the Lord who created you says, “Do not be afraid — I will save you. I have called you by name — you are mine.
[2]When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burnt; the hard trials that come will not hurt you.
[3]For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you. I will give up Egypt to set you free; I will give up Ethiopia and Seba.
[4]I will give up whole nations to save your life, because you are precious to me and because I love you and give you honour.
[5]Do not be afraid — I am with you! “From the distant east and the farthest west, I will bring your people home.
[6]I will tell the north to let them go and the south not to hold them back. Let my people return from distant lands, from every part of the world.
[7]They are my own people, and I created them to bring me glory.”
[8]God says, “Summon my people to court. They have eyes, but they are blind; they have ears, but they are deaf!
[9]Summon the nations to come to the trial. Which of their gods can predict the future? Which of them foretold what is happening now? Let these gods bring in their witnesses to prove that they are right, to testify to the truth of their words.
[10]“People of Israel, you are my witnesses; I chose you to be my servant, so that you would know me and believe in me and understand that I am the only God. Besides me there is no other god; there never was and never will be.
[11]“I alone am the Lord, the only one who can save you.
[12]I predicted what would happen, and then I came to your aid. No foreign god has ever done this; you are my witnesses.
[13]I am God and always will be. No one can escape from my power; no one can change what I do.”