RELATIONSHIP LANGUAGE - The prophet draws from the treasure trove of God/Israel history in the shaping of words to describe God’s plan of newness for Israel: created, formed, redeemed, called. Bara ("created") hearkens back to Genesis 1 and the Creation of life; "formed" supplies the rest of the parallelism but may also suggest a distinctive understanding of God’s creating artistry. "Redemption" is a concept that predominates in the Pentateuch, that of, "buying back," or "freeing" a firstborn animal ors human from another’s rightful ownership. The notion of "calling" recalls the Patriarch Abraham who obediently embarked on a new adventure in response to God’s call. Taken together, the language suggests a longstanding relationship that God and Israel have enjoyed-a journey that has taken twists and turns, forks in the road, and wonderfully open vistas.

CREATION AS A CONTINOUS ACTIVITY OF GOD - On the basis of Isaiah’s former things, associations are made with God’s present and former actions, in the events of the exodus and in the calling of the ancestors out of foreign regions and foreign hostilities. With its references to calling, creating, forming, and making, the final verse (v. 7) recalls the opening address to Jacob/Israel, applied now to God’s people at the very ends of the earth (43:6), among the nations as once Abram and Sarah had been (Genesis 11:10-32). [1]

Compare 42:23-43:1-7 with Ephesians 2:11-13 and note the similar sense of the "you were, but now are" construction. What does the "but now" in these passages emphasize about one’s relationship with God?

Which side of the "but now" are you presently on? What waters or fire seem to be fearfully close to you at the moment?

What kind of music would you play for both movements (Isaiah 42 & 43)?

This God-speech tells us much of the longsuffering and steadfast mercy of God. Earlier, Isaiah speaks of God as calling Israel a worm (more accurately, an insect), helpless and powerless to act like a nation and defend itself (Isaiah 41:14). Into the worm-like condition of Israel, God comes a Redeemer. Again in our lesson God comes as redeemer to a nation cowered in fear before strong enemies.

This nation has not walked faithfully with their God, not done justly, nor loved kindness. You might describe some of the indictments that God has against Judah and Israel-through the mouths of the prophets.

Yet God does not give up on people. God marks them with divine identity-"I formed you . . . I created you" (43:1) and thus will walk with them to bring them back to a restored relationship.

Baptism marks us with God’s special promise to be with us no matter where our path will lead-"when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you" (43:2).

Describe your own journey from the waters of baptism that has no doubt led you through the waters and times when you greatly feared or doubted God or felt like you were being overwhelmed.

Personalize the passage-invite listeners to place their own name in this passage: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, Tom . . . you are mine," etc. Baptism is that mark / symbol of God’s promise that claims us as God’s property and special people. That gives us great hope as we move forward into an unknown future.

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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible VI (Abingdon Press, 2001), pae 376.