Isa 43:1

Vv 1-21: The blind and deaf “witnesses”.

“Jacob the clay, Israel the vessel formed.”

I HAVE REDEEMED YOU: The buying out of slavery by a ransom or exchange (v 3). Pattern of a new exodus. Cp Lev 25: “goel” sig an exchange of prisoners (perhaps captured Assyrian soldiers for 200,000 Judean captives?).

I HAVE SUMMONED YOU BY NAME; YOU ARE MINE: Most perfectly of Jesus: the Father names the Son!

Even Jesus, the beloved servant, needed redemption! Redemption (Heb “gaal”) could be accomplished only by a “near-kinsman”.

Isa 43:2

WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS: Israelites passing through the Red Sea (Isa 43 based on Exo 15, song of Miriam). Or, alternatively, from the other side of the Euphrates (Isa 11:15,16), or the Nile (Isa 27:12,13)?

WALK THROUGH THE FIRE: Pillar of fire in wilderness.

THE FLAMES WILL NOT SET YOU ABLAZE: Israel, the burning bush, which is nevertheless not consumed (Exo 3). Christ’s immunity from hatred of enemies (Joh 7:30;44 8:59; 10:39; Psa 91:11). Cp Deu 5:22-28; 2Pe 3:10; 1Co 3:15.

Isa 43:3

SAVIOR: Moshiyah — cp “Mosheh”/Moses!

I GAVE EGYPT FOR YOUR RANSOM: The nation of Egypt, and all its firstborns, were “dedicated” to God, as a means of freeing Israel from slavery there. Therefore, God paid over Egypt as a “ransom” to free His people.

EGYPT… CUSH… SEBA: Prophetic summary: Psa 68:31; 72:10-15; Isa 11:11,15,16; 19:23-25; 27:13; Zep 3:10; Mic 7:15.

Isa 43:5

The fugitives who fled into neighboring areas from cruel Assyrians now return (Psa 120n; Psa 107:2-7,10,14,16).

Isa 43:7

WHOM I CREATED FOR MY GLORY: The “new creation” (cp Luk 13:28,29; Mar 13:27; Eph 2:10). Also, natural Israel, to be made part of same creation: Mat 23:39; Isa 49:22; 60:8…

Isa 43:8

Vv 8-13: Another court session (cp Isa 41:1-5,21-29). Another, 4th, session follows (Isa 45:20-25).

Isa 43:9

Cp Babylonian and Assyrian fables of creation and flood. Cp modern evolutionary fables. God alone can declare the “former things”.

Isa 43:10

Israel, the “blind” and “deaf” witnesses — then and now. “Israel… had repeatedly shown themselves to be spiritually deaf and blind… yet that very deafness and blindness was a witness to the truth of God… They were custodians of a prophetic witness for which they themselves provided impressive undesigned fulfillment” (WIsa 392). Cp Isa 44:8.

MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN: Hezekiah/Christ, the faithful servant: the elect, on whose behalf God acts. “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me” (Joh 8:18). Cp 1Jo 5:9; Joh 15:27.

Isa 43:16

Cp Joh 6:19: Jesus walking on water.

Isa 43:17

Cp Isa 26:14. Sennacherib’s army shared the fate of Pharaoh’s.

Isa 43:19

A WAY IN THE DESERT: Philip and Ethiopian eunuch: the “desert” and water in baptism (Act 8:36). A “son from afar” (v 6).

Isa 43:20

WILD ANIMALS: The wilderness Arabs were now hospitable rather than hostile (cp Mar 1:13).

WATER IN THE DESERT: The rich blessings of a Jubilee year, to facilitate resettlement (2Ki 19:29,30).

Isa 43:22

Vv 22-28: Forgiveness or curse. Parallel to Psa 50.

Isa 43:24

YOU HAVE BURDENED ME WITH YOUR SINS: God Himself the burden-bearer (cp Isa 53:11).

Isa 43:25

The free gift of forgiveness.

BLOTS OUT: Cp Act 3:19: “that your sins may be blotted out.” Ritual of day of atonement: Lev 16.

Isa 43:26

If strict justice were to take its course, all men would be condemned.

Isa 43:28

THE DIGNITARIES: The very people most condemned by witness of Christ.