Word of Salvation – Vol.34 No.30 - August 1989

 

Our God Redeems, Summons and Guards His People

 

Sermon by Rev. Peter Abetz on Isaiah 43:1b-3a

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 42:18-43:7; Romans 8.

 

Introduction

Brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ:

Many of the people of Israel felt utterly dejected.  And it was in this setting that God called the prophet Isaiah to speak words of encouragement and hope.  These people had been a slave people in Egypt and God had made them out of being nothing, into a nation.  As a nation they had prospered and things had gone so well under the kingship of David and Solomon.

Now God had let them be captured by the Babylonians, the temple had been destroyed and they had been taken into exile.

Israel was in a bad way.  The continued existence of Israel as a nation seemed very doubtful.

Israel as a nation seemed destined for oblivion, rather than the glorious realities the prophets had foretold.

They knew the reason for their exile, but that only added to their misery.

And I am sure that we can all, to some extent, identify with their feelings of misery.  I am sure that there have often been times when you felt disappointed with yourself: Disappointed because you have failed your Lord.  Disappointed because you do not seem to have the time and energy to fight evil in our society.

Or perhaps you have gone through a very difficult time emotionally, individually or as a family, and felt that things are so bad that they couldn't get worse and you even wonder whether God really cares.

Perhaps you have felt abandoned by God.  Perhaps you felt guilty, ashamed about your thoughts, and perhaps you were that low spiritually that you even wondered whether perhaps you would lose your faith altogether.  And everything seemed hopeless.

When you felt like that, no doubt some of your friends would have been quick to tell you that as a Christian you should always be happy, because in Jesus you have the victory.  And of course it is true that we have the victory through Jesus.  But the Scriptures repeatedly remind us that there will be times of difficulty, of doubt, of struggles.

If you are honest, you will admit that your life does take turns sometimes, the going can be so tough – that we despair.  That you begin to wonder about your ability to handle the future and even whether you really are a child of God.

God understands that.

He understood how the Israelites felt back then.  And look at the warm comfort God offered His people in our text.

He says to them: Look you have nothing to fear because...

1.  I Have Redeemed You!

This simple statement is packed with encouragement: God says: I have redeemed you.  In other words, I have paid for you, and you are mine.  I care for you.  No ifs or buts.  I care!

And these are not just idle words, for just before He says that, God spells out who He is in terms of what he HAS done for the people: I am He who created you!

In fact the Hebrew word translated in our Bible as created is the very same word used to describe God making the heaven and earth in Genesis 1.

God had made Israel a nation out of nothing for they had been a slave people in Egypt, and by His might and power, God had made them into a strong nation, knowing full well that she was far from perfect.

This God, who had made Israel, who had shown so much love to her in the past, it was He who was speaking to His special, chosen people.

This God says to Israel as they live in exile in Babylon, as they begin to despair of any future as a nation:

FEAR NOT for I have redeemed you.

Fear all too often takes over where faith leaves off.

It is part of our human nature to want to look around the next bend in the pathway of life.

The trouble is we can't, and then all too often, faith gives way to fear.

Fear of the so-called unknown.

The physical situation in Babylon for the exiles was actually quite good: ample food, and plenty of business opportunities.

The readiness with which many Jews embraced the culture of Babylon was of great concern to many devout Jews.  Their worry was that there just did not seem to be a future for Israel as an identifiable nation or group.

There seemed to be no future for their religious faith either.

And that of course meant no future as the people of God.

But look what God says: FEAR NOT: For I have redeemed you.

Our fears are based on a lack of faith in the promises of God and so God reminds them that He is a God who keeps His promises, and that He has redeemed them.

The word "redeemed" is the same as that used when an Israelite would buy back a piece of the family's land from another person to whom it had been sold in a time of financial need.  So God in effect is saying: I have bought you back.  I have paid for you so that you are again my possession.

We may get the impression here that God spoke as though he had already redeemed them.

And in a sense He had – He had redeemed them from Egypt.

But there is a double significance in this statement, because in Hebrew, if something is very certain to be, then to stress that, even when it is in the future they would say it in the past tense.

So actually what God is saying here to His people is:

DO NOT FEAR: For I have redeemed you and will again redeem you!

I will rescue or free you from bondage in Babylon just as I redeemed you from bondage in Egypt.  I am your redeemer!

And by referring back to His mighty deeds in the past, His redeeming them from slavery in Egypt and having made covenant with them at Mt Sinai and making them into a mighty nation out of nothing; the God who had done all these things in the past, is the God who was promising to redeem them again!  How reassuring!

Brothers and sisters, when we face times of difficulty, of hardship, of doubt, or discouragement, of grief, and the going is really tough, and we are tempted to think that there is no way out anymore, remember that your God, who has redeemed you from slavery to sin and death in the past will again redeem you.

He has the power to do it, and He will do it!

He who redeemed you in the first place, will not leave you in the lurch now.  You are His special people.

You are special in two ways: Firstly in that the Lord in His grace has made you one of the people He has redeemed!  And secondly:

2.  God Has Summoned You.

 "I have summoned you by name", is what God says: to Israel His people.

He has not just vaguely made an appeal to all and sundry, but he has actually summoned you by NAME.

Of all the nations, God had chosen Israel to be His people.

And the fact that this calling is not on the basis of merit comes out in the names used for calling:

Israel and Jacob.  Jacob was the deceiver.  Israel was in a more inclusive way the people of God.

They had been called to be the people of God.

The word summoned conveys the idea that they had been called for a purpose.

The nation Israel was the OT people of God, but since Christ, all those who have put their trust in Jesus are the people of Israel, - the seed of Abraham, the people of God.

And so what Israel was summoned to be is what we as a church are summoned to be.  Time does not permit us to look at every part of the summons which God has given to us, but let us look at a few briefly:

We are summoned to be:

a)  A light to the gentiles, or if you like, a missionary people.

In Israel the heathen nations were to see a reflection of the nature and love of God.

They were to make the other nations desirous of knowing God when they saw how blessed Israel was.

Jesus restated this summons in the words: You are the light of the world!  That is, you are to make known the Gospel to the unsaved.

We are summoned to be:

b)  a holy people.

Israel was to be holy in that she was to be dedicated to the service of the Lord.

We are holy in that we are called to serve our Lord and master, and to "work out our salvation".  In other words, we are called to put into practice what Jesus Christ has done for us.

God gave the people of Israel still more comfort by reassuring them that:

3.  God Will Guard You In The Times Of Testing.

Notice what verse 2 says.  Read v.2

WHEN you pass through...  In other words, it is not a matter of if, but when.

As God's people, Israel, was to pass through times of testing.

And for us as the modern day people of God, testing is not a doubtful possibility.  Rather, times of testing are a certainty for all those who live the Christian life.

Times of testing are a living reality of living the Christian life.

The WATER and FIRE mentioned in the text are a picture of every danger which the believer faces.

Indeed, Scripture repeatedly presents water and fire as the means of God's judgement.

Water was the means of judgement God used on a sinful world at the time of Noah.

Fire is frequently used as the figurative description of the destiny of those who reject God's salvation.

As Christians, we need not fear the day of judgement because Jesus Christ has paid for all our sins, and cleansed us from every stain and blemish, so much so that for us judgement day is not going to be a trial.

In fact we have nothing to fear, for God will no longer hold our sin against us.  For we have been redeemed.  But the testing spoken of here is not just dealing with the end times.

It also deals with the here and now, and that is where God's promise I WILL BE WITH YOU is such a strength and comfort.

God does not say to His people that His redeeming them will make everything just fine.

Instead: He promises to be with them.

And if our God is with us, the God who so graciously took care of His people throughout history, what more can we ask of God?

Troubles will come.0

Not just at the end times, but also in the ordinary affairs of life, for we live in a sin affected world.

But ultimately we will not be harmed.

For God says: I will be with you, when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

Similarly: when you pass through the fire it will not set you ablaze.

In Jesus, our feet are on solid rock.  He has redeemed us.

He has bought us back to be His very own people.

But how does God protect us from harm?

Does He do this by supernatural intervention?

He can and I am sure He does that from time to time.  But He normally works through HIS WORD and Spirit by means of the body of His people.  He normally protects us and strengthens and encourages us through the ministry of His people.

And as God's children we are summoned to be part of the Body of Christ, summoned to be part of a fellowshipping people of God.  And the church is that body of fellowshipping people.

The writer of Hebrews says:

Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

And to that end, I would encourage you all to join a Bible study or fellowship group.

[Note to the sermon reader: insert whatever groups you have in your congregation]

For it is only in small groups that we can actually do many of the things which Christ calls us to do and be.

If you do not participate in a small group of some sort, you are in effect telling God:
            I am strong, I am alright, I do not need what you summon me to!

We cannot really be solo Christians.  Each and every one of us needs a church
            - for worship in the large group
            - for fellowship in the small group.

Joining a local church should be a very significant act for it gives physical expression to our belonging to the body of Christ's people.  And it gives us the opportunity to experience real fellowship, or if you prefer: Christian Body Life.

You see, God has chosen to work through the means of the local congregations of His church to guard His people in times of testing.

The early church went through severe trials and persecutions.  And it was through the fellowship of the believers that they were able to withstand and resist the attacks against them.  Many paid with their lives, but they certainly were able to strengthen each other to the point where comparatively few denied the faith.

Conclusion:

Brothers and sisters, remember that GOD almighty has redeemed you.  He has summoned you to be part of His Holy people: To be a light in this world; to bring glory and honour to His name.

And He will guard you in times of testing through His Word and Spirit, and the fellowship of His people.

AMEN