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. 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 43:1-2 KJV
This part of scripture from the Holy Bible starts out by stating that we, who the Lord has created, like as Jacob (*,***heel-catcher, i.e., supplanter or one who trips up or overthrows), who God formed (*fashioned, purposed) to be Israel (*or he will rule (as) God, also (typically) of his posterity) (***or posterity meaning all future generations of people), God says “Fear Not” for we have been redeemed (*purchased) by the blood of Jesus (Psalm 31:5, Luke 1:68)), and we have been called (*, **pronounced, become famous, or to “call out loudly” in order to get someone’s attention so that contact can be initiated), “by thy name” (*, ***an appellation, or a name or title, as a mark or memorial of individuality, [in-] fame [-ous] or unworthy), and God says “thou art mine.”
Isaiah goes on to say when we “passest through the waters” or “waters” (mayim) in this sense meaning “wasting” or by euphemism (***a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing), “waters” meaning urine or semen* , when we pass through this, God will be with us. So think of what horrific circumstance you have, whatever holocaust you chose to identify with or experience on a personal level, you have had, you are now having, or will be going through, God will be with you. God is not a magician, so He is maturing you through this horrific circumstance. I would rather have God go through the horrific circumstance with me than to be alone in the horrific circumstance I am going through. When we go “through the rivers”, “rivers” meaning just that, river or stream*, “they shall not overflow thee.” In this particular scripture, a “river” or “nahar” is a figure of trouble and difficulty**. We go through a time where we feel overwhelmed, but God helps us to bear our burdens for He is with us giving us strength to go on. When we “walkest through the fire” “fire” meaning burning, fiery, flaming, hot* , God says we will not be burned (*to prick or penetrate; hence to blister [as smarting or eating into], burn). Our “hot” situations in life are quenched by the blood of Jesus as we go through the miracles of God’s saving grace. This part of scripture goes on to say that “neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” The word “kindle” or “baar” means be brutish, (cause to) eat (up), set ([on fire])*.
According to this small part of scripture, starting out, as did Jacob, in our sin as in our youth, we were formed and ruled by God, growing in our daily spiritual maturity while experiencing our horrific circumstances, yet we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus as He has called us to Him, to be called “O Israel.” We don’t have to be perfect at the onset (*** “onset” meaning the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant) for God’s love. Therefore, God doesn’t say we won’t go through anything bad, whether we are good or bad, but when we do go through it, the horrific, He is here and will help us get through it. Glory be to God!
*The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D.
**Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr.
***Google Dictionary (online).
God Bless You All!
Brenda A. McGee has attended New York Theological Seminary in New York, NY, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA as a Master of Divinity student.
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