God Promises to Restore

January 8, 2023 Background Scripture: Isaiah 43: 1 - 21 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 43:1 - 4, 10 - 12 In the Background Scripture, Isaiah delivered a very important message to the people of Israel. The opening statement is a declaration of the source of the message. The eternal God of creation is the One Who sent the message. The message was very personal from the beginning. God declared ownership of Israel but not as a material possession, but as a personal relationship. It is reminiscent of the statement God made through the prophet Jeremiah when He said to His people, "I am married to you." God called them by name. He used their forefather's natural birth name, Jacob, and his spiritual birth name, Israel. The use of both names covers the full range of the relationship God has with them. God created Jacob to be His even before Jacob knew God. After Jacob came to know God in a very personal way, God changed his name to Israel to reflect the new relationship. The restoration God promised them in this lesson corresponds to the promises and covenant He had with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. There was nothing in this world that would prevent God from showing His love to them. He had chosen them as His own. God enabled them to overcome the harsh limitations of nature and the brutal treatment by people to demonstrate His love for them. They were precious in God's sight, and therefore He honored them among people. There was no need for them to be afraid of any situations they may encounter or misfortune that might overtake them. God would be their Protector and Deliverer. Even when they are scattered as a people, God would regather them to Himself from across the world. The "el" in the name "Isra - el" identifies them with God. He called them by His name because He created them for His glory to honor Him. God declared Himself to be without peer. Nothing and no one existed before God. Therefore, there is nothing and no one who can claim to be equal with or greater than God. Whatever God declares, it is truth. God's truth cannot be denied by any. It can only be witnessed to, or attested to, by true believers. True believers have witnessed God's work in their own lives. God does not look for His enemy to praise Him and His mighty works. God's people have the privilege of doing that because of personal experiences. God's relationship with Israel is a demonstration of the love He has for all who He claims as His own. All that we know about God or may come to learn about Him In this life, has been demonstrated through His love for Israel. Through the word of God, the bible, we can see His divine love for Israel even when they did not truly know Him as their God, Afterwards, we see God's loving discipline of them. No matter how far Israel strayed from God, He would always limit their punishment, or suffering, and regather them to Himself. God was always there to pick up the pieces and restore Israel to the place He preserved for them. As if knowing His track record wasn't enough for them, God went so far as to promise Israel that He would always restore them. One would think that would be enough to warrant immediate repentance and turning to God in prayer by His wayward people. God's redeeming love reminds me of the lyrics: "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!" A prayer of repentance will always be answered by God because He promised to restore His people. Robert C. Hudson December 23, 2022