The recent news reporting of flooding and wildfires across America has reminded me of a scripture passage in Isaiah that has meant a great deal to me through the years. It’s about the floods and the fires of life and God’s promises concerning them.
Isaiah 43:1-3 says, NKJV “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”
The possessive love of God (you are mine) is amazing. Not only does God adopt you and give you His name, but He promises to be with you through every catastrophe! There is nothing too strong for God! He is your redeemer, making the bad times good. Believe Him and see what amazing thing He will do on your behalf!
In the New Testament, this wisdom it is presented in Romans 8: 28, NKJV “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God redeems the bad times and makes them good. Later on in Romans 8 we find several verses that attest to God’s possessive love and protection. Romans 8:31-37 clearly states that no tribulation, test, or trial can separate us from the love of God.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In the 3rd verse of Isaiah 43, God gives us His qualifications by using four of His names; I am, Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and Savior. Let’s look at each of these descriptive names.
“Ehyeh” is the first person form of “hayah” and owing to the peculiarities of Hebrew grammar means, “I am, I was, and I will be”.
Lord in Hebrew is translated, “Adonai” and means “my lords”, a plural rendering of God alluding to the trinity. It means “master or sovereign”.
“The Holy One of Israel” is a combination of the word for holy, “Qadash” and the nation of Israel ‘Yisra’el”. It represents God’s “set apartness” and it reminds us that God is not like the world and its ideology.
“Savior” in Hebrew literally means, “one who is causing to be delivered”.
Putting all this together, Isaiah 43:1, “ For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;” means “For I am, I was, and I will be the master or sovereign over your life for I am set apart to cause you to be delivered”. Wow! What a promise!
It’s easy to lose hope when floods and fires and viruses attack with a vengeance. But we must remember the possessive love of God for us. He has backed his promises with his name and there is no greater. Romans 8:38-29 NLT reminds us that NOTHING – NoThing- can separate us from God’s love. “And I am convinced that NOTHING can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, NOTHING in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. When you walk thru life, begin to whisper to yourself, “nothing, no -thing” and watch God’s possessive love for you work
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