Scripture Focus:
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you… for I am the Lord, your God… You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:1–4 NLT)

“But you are my witnesses… You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God… For I am about to do something new… I… will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” (Isaiah 43:10, 19, 25 NLT)

“I have swept away your sins like a cloud… Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” (Isaiah 44:22 NLT)

“I publicly proclaim bold promises… I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found… Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.” (Isaiah 45:19, 23 NLT)


Reflection:
In a true relationship, you must truly know each other. God doesn’t just want us to know about Him — facts, stories, or doctrines. He wants us to know Him. In Isaiah 43:10 He says, “You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God.” This is the language of relationship.
When you know someone deeply, you trust them. You draw near to them. You walk in confidence because you’ve experienced their character. That’s what God is inviting us into — a relationship where our knowledge of Him transforms how we live.
Knowing Him personally changes:

• How we see ourselves — We live as people who are loved, redeemed, and chosen.
• How we handle trials — We trust His presence in deep waters and fires.
• How we approach life — We walk with confidence, expecting Him to do “something new.”

And when we know Him like this, the only natural response is to reflect His heart and share His love with others.


Knowing Him
Who God Is (His Character):

• Creator – “The Lord who created you… who formed you” (43:1, 7; 45:12).
• Redeemer – “Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (43:14; 44:6, 22–23).
• Savior – “I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior” (43:11).
• Holy One – “The Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (43:3).
• King – “Israel’s Creator and King” (43:15).
• Only God – “There is no other God—there never has been, and there never will be” (43:10; 45:5–6, 18, 21–22).
• Faithful and True – “I, the Lord, speak only what is true… I will never go back on my word” (45:19, 23).
• Glorious – “I have made them for my glory” (43:7).
• Righteous Judge – “I, the Lord, speak… declare only what is right” (45:19).
• Sovereign over all nations – “I will send an army against Babylon… I am the Lord… there is no other” (43:14–15; 45:1–7).

What He Has Done (Past Actions):

• Ransomed His people – “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you… I traded their lives for yours” (43:1, 4).
• Called us by name – “I have called you by name; you are mine” (43:1).
• Brought them through waters – “I opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea” (43:16).
• Blotted out sins – “I… will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again” (43:25; 44:22).
• Redeemed Jacob – “The Lord has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel” (44:23).
• Proclaimed His promises openly – “I publicly proclaim bold promises” (45:19).

What He’s Going to Do (Future Promises):

• Be with us in trouble – “When you go through deep waters… rivers of difficulty… fire of oppression, I will be with you” (43:2).
• Gather His people – “I will gather you and your children from east and west” (43:5–6).
• Do something new – “For I am about to do something new… I will make a pathway through the wilderness… rivers in the dry wasteland” (43:19).
• Vindicate His name – “I have sworn by my own name… every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance” (45:23).
• Call all nations – “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” (45:22).

Why? (His Motives):

• Because we are precious, honored, and loved – “You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you” (43:4).
• For His glory – “I have made them for my glory” (43:7).
• For our redemption – “I have paid the price to set you free” (44:22).
• To show He alone is God – “That all the world will know there is no other God” (45:6, 21–22).
• To bring people to salvation – “Turn to me and be saved… for I am God, and there is no other” (45:22).

How Does This Point to Jesus?

• He is the Redeemer & Ransomer – Fulfilled in Christ’s death on the cross (Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 1:18–19).
• He is the “something new” – Jesus brings the new covenant (Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
• He gathers His people – Jesus draws people from every nation to Himself (John 12:32).
• Every knee will bow – Quoted in Philippians 2:10–11 about Jesus.
• The forgiveness of sins – “Blotted out” in Isaiah is fulfilled in Christ (Colossians 2:13–14).
• 
  

These chapters are like a gospel preview — God saying, “I alone save, I forgive, I restore, I make all things new.”


Lesson for Me:
The lesson here is about reading God’s Word and truly knowing Him—not just the history of what He’s done, but knowing His might, His faithfulness, and His love so that our trust in Him grows deeper.

• I am chosen, loved, and redeemed by the Lord.
• God’s promises are trustworthy—I can stand confidently on them.
• Jesus is the fulfillment of these promises, and my hope rests in Him.

Application Questions:

1. Which truth about who God is brings you the most comfort today?
2. How can you live in a way that reflects your identity as someone precious and loved by God?
3. What “new thing” might God be doing in your life that you need to embrace?
4. How does knowing God personally affect how you face trials?
5. How can you share the hope of these promises with someone who needs encouragement?

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for calling me by name and redeeming me through Jesus. Help me to walk in confidence, knowing that I am precious, honored, and loved. Teach me to trust Your promises, even when I can’t yet see their fulfillment. Open my eyes to the new things You are doing in my life, and give me courage to embrace them. Draw me deeper into relationship with You—beyond just knowing about You—to truly knowing You. And help me to reflect Your heart so others can see Your redeeming love through me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


⸻

..