Wednesday 14 January 2015
- Bible Book:
- Isaiah
“I have called you by name, you are mine.” (v. 1)
Psalm: Psalm 77
Background
After decades of exile, it would be understandable that thoseaffected would feel that their suffering would never end and thatthey would never see their homeland again. An apparently powerlesspeople were subjected by much more powerful rulers, and for mostall hope must have evaporated. However the words in today's passageare meant to counter that hopelessness, and remind those listeningnot only about their history but also that their God has notforgotten them.
The exile was a key moment in Jewish history, but so too was theExodus from Egypt (Exodus 12). As slaves in Egypt, oppressed by apowerful ruler, the situation must have felt pretty hopeless thentoo, but Isaiah reminds readers that the Israelites passed through"the waters" of the Red Sea (verse 2) as a result of God being withthem. The "fire" mentioned in the same verse may also be areference to the iron furnace of Egyptian slavery (
God is also prepared to pay any price that is necessary to'redeem' God's own people (verse 1). Egypt, Ethiopia and Seba,almost all the known area of Africa, are offered in exchange forthe exiles (verse 3). Israel may be far smaller than these othercountries but it is like the most precious stone, worth givinganything for in return. As a result, and because God loves them somuch, God will reach out to people where ever they now are acrossthe world. North, south, east or west, God's love will know noboundaries or barriers and will find them and like a mother hen,gather her children in.
To Ponder
- Pray for people on the fringes of your church or community,that they may feel God's love and know that they have not beenforgotten.
- Remember a challenging time in your own life and give thanksthat God travelled with you throughout.
- Pray for Israel/Palestine, where the gathering in of Jews fromaround the world and the subsequent building of settlements has ledto so much conflict and tension.