This morning we are going to read sections of Isaiah 43. This chapter is a favourite of many and contains priceless promises that build and strengthen our faith in our loving, kind, compassionate, gracious and powerful God.

Many times the Bible refers back to the people of God using both the names "Jacob" and "Israel" in the same verse. That is the case here. For me it is a reminder of who we were and who we have become. Jacob means "supplanter, schemer, trickster and swindler" and we can all slip back into our own brand of self-centred sinful behaviour. But let's not get too discouraged. We are works in progress. Let's come swiftly to the Father in true repentance and press on under his smile and affirmation.

By contrast, Israel means "triumphant with God" and this affirms us in our new identity: transformed into the image of God's Son. One of God's names is "Our Banner of Victory". We are to fight the good fight of faith every day, but the victory is assured and it can be constantly celebrated. As the song puts it "We lift our banner high; we lift the name of Jesus!" "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Rom 8:35-37). "All these things" refers to real suffering and they include what is unpleasant, demeaning, discouraging, painful, hard to bear and challenging to faith. Yet the grace of God is sufficient for us.

"But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel the one who formed you says, '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. When you go through rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom … since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you.'" (Isa 43:1-4)

The people of God were under the sentence of death. Pharaoh had given this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile." But Egypt died instead. The Lord swept Pharaoh's entire army into the sea and not one survived. Yahweh did literally give Egypt as their ransom.

"'You are my witnesses, O Israel' says the Lord.  (You are my only witnesses, so please don't hold back; don't keep silent; testify on my behalf.) 'You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other – there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Saviour. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world.'" (Isa 43:10-12)

"'From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done … I am about to do something new … I, yes I alone, will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.'" (Isa 43:13, 19, 25)