Isaiah Forty Three

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

The Lord that created thee. The nation Israel had been a special creation of God, through a series of mighty miracles of creation. It has also been “formed” through various ongoing miracles of providential preservation, and will one day be completely redeemed by the same Creator/Savior (Romans 11:26-27).

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Isaiah 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Isaiah 43:4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Isaiah 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

Isaiah 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

for my glory. Although this affirmation was especially applied to Israel, the principle is universal, answering the great question as to God's purpose in creation. It was “for my glory!” See also Revelation 4:11.

made him. Note that man is “created,” “formed” and “made.” Compare Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7.

Isaiah 43:8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Isaiah 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

I am he. See note on Exodus 3:14 and note on Isaiah 41:10. God here makes an absolute claim to all-encompassing Deity. The answer to the trivial question of the skeptic, “But who made God,” is that the one true God is the ultimate reality: there was no “god” before Him, and none after Him. The modern atheistic answer (“the universe made itself out of nothing by some quantum fluctuation of the primeval nothingness”) is credulous nonsense.

Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

there is no saviour. The Lord is not only the Creator, but also the Savior, and there can be no other. None but the all-holy Creator of life can redeem from death. The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself Creator (John 1:1-3) and “the great God and our Saviour” (Titus 2:13).

Isaiah 43:12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

Isaiah 43:13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Isaiah 43:14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

Isaiah 43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

creator of Israel. The establishment of Israel as a nation among nations—in fact, God's chosen nation—was so miraculous as to be called a creation, and only God can create!

Isaiah 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

a way in the sea. This is evidently a reference to the supernatural parting of the waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21, 22) which enabled the Israelites to escape Egypt and become an independent people, the event which could be called, more than any other single event, the creation of Israel.

Isaiah 43:17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

Isaiah 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.

Isaiah 43:22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

Isaiah 43:23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

Isaiah 43:24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 43:26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

Isaiah 43:27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.

a way in the sea. This is evidently a reference to the supernatural parting of the waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21, 22) which enabled the Israelites to escape Egypt and become an independent people, the event which could be called, more than any other single event, the creation of Israel.

Isaiah 43:28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.