Post #41 in series for November 22 of How God Rescues From Messes
Why would God want to buy us back (redeem us) after we make a mess of our lives? According to Isaiah 43:3, he considers us precious and honored, and he loves us,. In my drought of self-esteem, I clung to those words. Isn’t his love astounding, considering how God’s people (both Israel and us) broke his heart with their (our) rebellion?
Israel was meant to be God’s Servant, to bring God’s Word to the world. In a much smaller way, God called me to be one of his spokesmen (as a writer) to bring God’s messages to the world. Israel was not serving God obediently in Isaiah’s time yet, eventually, Israel did bring God’s Word to the world in the form of a baby at God’s perfect time.
“But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son,
born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who
were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as
sons,” Galatians 4:6, RSV).
This gives me hope that I can fulfill my purpose, also.
The more I realize my sinfulness and inability to live a perfect life, the more I love the Lord and appreciate his grace. After Jesus Christ opened my eyes and ears to his will, I didn’t want any idolatry in my life. Since it took adversity and affliction to get me to that point, I see why the Apostle Paul encouraged us to rejoice and be thankful even when things are difficult and painful. (See Phil. 4:4, Eph.5:20, Rom.8:28). We can trust God to do what is best when we ask him to take control of our lives.
God went to great lengths to buy back his people. We were still sinners—weren’t even his own yet—when God gave his own life for us. “For God was in Christ, restoring the world to himself, no longer counting [people’s] sins against them but blotting them out,”(2 Cor. 5:19, LB).
In Isaiah 43:8-17, God calls Israel to be his witnesses to proclaim that he is the only true God, the Almighty One who created them. Israel’s role was to be a witness for God, yet they were blind and deaf. Why would the Lord go to so much trouble to convince people that he is God, unless it is because he loves them and wants to be in relationship with them? Think again about the model train setup. If you had created a little “world” like that, would you care whether they believed in you or not?
God wants us to look ahead to his promises rather than dwelling on our sinful past and the resultant judgment. Although the “spokesman” had rebelled, God still works with his chosen one. (This statement applies to both Israel and me, and perhaps to some of you.)
God does us the tremendous favor of blotting out our sins (v.25). He asks us to pay attention to him, even argue with him if necessary. (26). Those who keep on ignoring him and not obeying him will end up in destruction (28).
Thank you Lord for calling us into relationship with you. Amen.
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