Isaiah 43:1-3a
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
Isaiah 43:18-21
Do not remember the former things,
or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
The wild animals will honour me,
the jackals and the ostriches;
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.
Reflection
I love this passage.
I love the reassurance of the opening verses.
I hear my name – God has got you, Karen.
God created you, formed you, saves you.
God is with me – calling me by my name –
So, there can be no mistake…
It’s definitely me that is being called!
The fire may rage – God has got me!
The waters may swell and threaten to overwhelm – God is still there!
‘You will not be consumed. You will not be destroyed.’
That still, small voice, saying, ‘Karen – you’re going to be ok!’
Beautiful!
But you know, in truth, things sometimes feel unrelentingly hard!
Where are you, Lord?
What good are your promises when, in the thick of things,
You seem to be silent… you seem to be absent…?
Then I am reminded that God also says, ‘I am doing a new thing!
That fire…? It won’t rage forever!
Those waters…? They will be quieted!
Look…! Look…! I’m already doing something new…
‘Don’t you see it?
I need you to see it –
Because you are part of it!
‘The way I work is through my people –
Who I formed,
Who I call,
Who I accompany on the journey…’
And I know it’s true –
Because I have never believed in magic,
But I see your miracles at work
Where ordinary people will listen and hear and respond to you.
So, I hear God speaking through this passage…
‘I am still calling you – by your name!
I have work for you to do…
‘And yes –
You may pass through the fires,
Through the waters,
Through the parched and desolate lands –
But I have got you held.
‘Do not fear, because I will never leave you alone,
I created you,
I formed you
I call you – by name.
‘Listen… and know that you are mine!’
Prayer
What a wonderful thing
To be known, and called, and loved
For who I am.
Whatever I have been,
Or may be in the future,
Right now, I’m just me –
And I rejoice that you choose me –
You claim me as your own,
You have plans for me
And refuse to let me go.
Loving God,
How wonderful!
May all your people
Know the same reassurance –
Of your voice
Calling them by name. Amen