"You are Mine"

September 24

Isaiah 42-43

Psalm 106:19-27

Proverbs 23:19-21

I Thessalonians 1

“You are Mine”

“But now, this is what the Lord says— ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.  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.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.”  Isaiah 43:1-5 NIV

Israel is God’s chosen people.  Out of all the people of the world, He picked them.  It was not because of anything they did to deserve His blessing.  Throughout history they failed Him over and over and over.  He protected them, rescued them, provided for them, and loved them and they repeatedly turned to other gods and forsook Him.  They were faithless and yet He remained faithful.  They even rejected His Son and still refuse to believe that Jesus is their promised Messiah.  These verses explain to us that God has not turned His back on Israel even though they have been disobedient.  Because He loves them, He promises to always be with them.  He has redeemed them and called them by name.  They belong to Him.  When they rejected Him, God turned His attention to the Gentiles, but there will come a day when He again focusses His attention on Israel.  They are His children, and He has not forgotten them.  He will gather them all again in Israel and at that point they will turn to Him and trust Him. 

God’s faithfulness to Israel as displayed time and time again in the Bible is a source of great comfort to me.  Just as He chose Israel, He has chosen me.  He has redeemed me and called me by name.  I am His.  It is not based on my efforts or faithfulness.  Faithfulness is part of His character.  He cannot be unfaithful. His faithfulness to Israel gives me complete confidence in His faithfulness to me.  I am precious and honored in His sight and He loves me.  Psalm 100:3 says, “Know that the Lord, He is God!  It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” (NIV) I John 3:1 tells us, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so, we are.” (ESV) John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (ESV) I belong to Him.  I am His precious child.  Nothing can change that.  I can rest in the assurance that He will never leave me or forsake me, and He will protect and provide for me.