Fear not, for I have redeemed
you;
I have summoned you by name; you are
mine.
when you pass through the
waters,
I will be with
you;
and when you pass through the
rivers,
they will not sweep over
you.
When you walk through the
fire,
you will not be
burned;
the flames will not set you
ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2
Footnote: Going through rivers of difficulty
will either cause you to drown or force you to grow stronger. If you go in your
own strength, you are more likely to drown. If you invite the Lord to go with
you, he will protect you.
I, even I, am he who blots
out
your transgressions, for my own
sake,
and remembers your sins no
more.
Isaiah 43:25
Footnote: How tempting it is to remind someone
of a past offense! But when God forgives our sins he totally forgets them. We
never have to fear that he will remind us of them later. Because God forgives
our sin, we need to forgive others.
44:28 Footnote: Isaiah, who prophesied from
about 740 - 681 B.C. , called Cyrus by name almost 150 years before he ruled
(559-530 B.C.)! Later historians said that Cyrus read this prophecy and was so
moved that he carried it out. Isaiah also predicted that Jerusalem would fall
more than 100 years before it happened and that the temple would be rebuilt
about 200 years before it happened. It is clear these prophecies came from a
God who knows the future.
45:22 Footnote: Salvation is for all nations,
not just the Israelites. Many times it seems as though Israel had an inside
track on salvation. But God makes it clear that his people include all those
who follow him. Israel was to be the means through which the whole world would
come to know God. Jesus, the Messiah, fulfilled Israel's role and gave all
people the opportunity to follow God. (See also Romans 11:11, Galations 3:28;
Ephesians 3:6; Philippians 2:10).
Keep reading -- 163 days left!
All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV
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