Isaiah 43
I. (1-39) Condemnation
A. Chapters 1-12 - Prophecies against Israel and Judah
B. Chapters 13-23 - Prophecies against the Nations
C. Chapters 24-27 - Prophecies of the Day of the Lord
D. Chapters 28-35 - Prophecies of Judgment and Blessing
E. Chapters 36-39 - Historical accounts
II. (40-66) Consolation
A. Chapters 40-48 - Israel’s God
1. \\#40:1-31\\ Be comforted by meeting your God
2. \\#41:1-29\\ Be Comforted by Meeting Your Protector
3. \\#42:1-25\\ Be Comforted by Meeting the Servant
4. \\#43:1-28\\ Be Comforted by Knowing Your God’s Desire - This
chapter continues the thought with which the last chapter
closed; namely, that the Lord has brought a great destruction
upon Israel. However, this chapter will emphasize the offer of
God’s presence to Israel.
I. \\#43:1-28\\ Be Comforted by Knowing Your God’s Desire
A. \\#1-7\\ God’s Endtime Plan - This is a plan to deliver Israel. To
know that this is an endtime deliverance, you must first read
\\#5-7\\. We should also remember that before there can be a
regathering, there must first be a scattering.
1. \\#1\\ "BUT" - In contrast to what has happened to Israel in
their past (and even to what will be happening when Israel
finally reads this Book and turns to Jesus as their Messiah),
God has better things in store for Israel.
2. \\#1\\ "thou art mine" - Israel belongs the Lord and the Lord
has not cast them away forever. The Lord reminds them that He
had "created" them, "formed" them as a nation, and "redeemed"
them out of Egypt to be His people.
3. \\#2\\ This verse speaks not only to the God’s endtime plan but
also of God’s abiding presence on Israel in their modern-day
adversities. The offer of God’s presence is a standing offer to
Israel. One day, Israel will take God up on that offer.
a. Adversity - "When thou passest through the waters…"
Comfort - "I will be with thee…"
b. Adversity - "…through the waters…"
Comfort - "they shall not overflow thee…"
c. Adversity - "…when thou walkest through the fire…"
Comfort - "though shall not be burned, neither shall the flame
kindle upon thee."
4. \\#3\\ Why will God honor His word to be with Israel? Because
"I am the Lord they God… thy Savior." Oh, that Israel would
turn to Him today to find the comfort that He offers.
5. \\#3\\ "I gave Egypt… Ethiopia and Seba for thee"
a. Those who hold that the Cyrus is the righteous man \\#41:2\\
believe that God allowed Persia to conquer Egypt, Ethiopia
(located in South Africa), and Seba (a region in Ethiopia)
for allowing Israel to return to their homeland.
b. However, I believe this possibly refers to a future conquest
of these nations, which leads them to align themselves with
Israel.
(1) \\#Is 45:13-14\\ Describes these same countries one
day coming to Israel and submitting to them as they
have learned that Jehovah is indeed God and there is
none like Him.
(2) No one knows the many twists and turns that Israel
relationship with these countries may have before
Jesus’ return. However, Egypt is presently a friend
to Israel and it may be that because of that, the
anti-Christ himself may attack and conquer Egypt.
(3) \\#Is 19:20-25\\ These verses describe a future time
of destruction in Egypt, at which the Egyptians will
turn to the Lord. This is definitely an endtime
prophecy and I suspect the conqueror is the anti-Christ.
(4) We do know that at some time, Egypt and Ethiopia will
have much destruction caused by the sword.
\\#Eze 30:3-5\\
(THOUGHT - Egypt is a friend of Israel today and, along with Assyria, is
mentioned as a having a great millennial relationship with Israel. I have
already speculated that these countries may try to aid the Jews who are being
hunted by the anti-Christ during the tribulation. That theory would account
for the need for a highway between these nations on which the scattered Jews may
return to Israel. I have also seen the prophecies of Egypt’s destruction and
speculated that this destruction might be the work of the anti-Christ as
punishment for helping the Jews. Noticing that Egypt is not mentioned among
this list of endtime enemies makes the possibility more realistic. As of yet, I
have found no verses which portray Assyria as a friend of the Jews.)
6. \\#4\\ Because Israel "wast precious in my sight… therefore
will I give men for thee…." - God is plainly saying that He
will allow others to be sacrificed that those He loves might
be kept safe. Oh, to be the beloved of the Lord!
7. \\#5-7\\ "I will bring thy seed from the east…west…north…
south…." - This is the promise of God regathering Israel to
the homeland. As mentioned before, this will only occur twice
\\#Is 11:11\\. Once was when they returned from Babylon. The
other will be when they are regathered after the anti-Christ
scatters them.
B. \\#8-13\\ God’s Endtime Proof - God has given us a proof that He is
the one and only God.
1. \\#8-9\\ Gather around
a. \\#8\\ Assembly the blind and deaf that they might know what
the Lord is to tell them.
b. \\#9\\ Likewise, gather the nations and the people.
c. What God is about to say is important and people need to
know.
2. \\#9\\ "Who among them can declare this, and shew us former
things?" The question is rhetorical and likely more of a
statement.
a. All of these verses are saying that God’s prophecy is the
proof that He is the one true God. These prophecies, when
they are fulfilled, should convince the world who God is.
b. The Lord has given one prophecy in this chapter already,
namely that He will regather the Jews into their land.
c. While this is primarily an endtime prophecy, still waiting to
be fulfilled, the fact that the Jews were regathered into
their homeland in 1948 must be considered as a convincing
argument. If God is doing it now, why can’t God do it again
later?
d. However, He has other prophecies yet to give in this chapter.
3. \\#10\\ "Ye are my witnesses" - God is speaking to Israel whom
He also calls "my servant."
a. God is calling His people to be witness.
b. "that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am
He" - This witness is not for convincing others but the Jews
themselves. This regathering, which has started, should
help the nation to see their God.
4. \\#10-11\\ These two verses, although directed to Israel, give
us an important doctrinal truth for combating the Mormon cult.
The Mormons believe the false teaching that Jehovah became God
and that we ourselves can progress to deity. Isaiah repeatedly
proclaims there is only One God; and more, that there was no
god before Him and that there will be no gods after Him.
Isaiah 43:10 …before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after
me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD
of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:
I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there
is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:14 … Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself
that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in
vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together:
who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have
not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour;
there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and
there is none else.
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none
else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not
consumed.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and
the last. \\#Rev 1:8, 1:11, 21:6\\
5. \\#12\\ "when there was no strange God among you" - God is
reminding the Jews that He has claimed them as His and promised
them His abiding presence since long before their idolatrous
practices began. Both His love and His judgments were
prophesied from the nation’s birth and they serve as witnesses
that what He has promised has come to pass.
6. \\#13\\ "before the day was I am He" - Since before time was,
God has been the great I AM.
C. \\#14-21\\ God’s Additional Signs - The primary proof that God is
who He has claimed with be bring the Jews back into the land;
however, He gives two additional proofs of His Deity.
1. \\#14-18\\ The destruction of Babylon - One must remember that
at this time, Assyria is becoming the dominate world power.
Babylon is just a little pup still growing hundreds of miles
away, but God is already promising to bring Babylon down as
proof of His power.
a. \\#14\\ "Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of
Israel" - God ties His name to His people, joining the two
together in an unbreakable bond.
b. \\#14\\ "For your sake" - Babylon shall ultimately fall
because it will be better for Israel. God both raised up
this nation and brought it down for the sake of His people.
(I have wondered if all world powers and events are not
staged for Israel’s benefit.)
c. \\#15\\ Jehovah continues to introduce Himself to His people.
He is their Lord, the Holy One, the Creator, and their King.
d. \\#16-17\\ God promises Israel protection, presumably over
Babylon, regardless of whether they come by sea or by land.
There have been several times when God dried up the waters
and made a path through them (i.e. Israel crossing the Red
Sea, Israel crossing the Jordan River, and Elisha crossing
the Jordan River). There is also at least one more river to
be dried up:
Revelation 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river
Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the
east might be prepared.
e. \\#18\\ Remember this "former thing," a thing told before it
comes to pass.
2. \\#19-21\\ The wilderness will have both a road and become a
river - This will be fulfilled once Jesus sits upon the throne
in Jerusalem, but it will be a reminder to the Jews that God
promised them that these seemingly impossible feats would come to
pass.
a. \\#19\\ As another sign, God will do something new. It is
a two-fold prophecy.
(1) He will make a way (a road) in the wilderness.
(a) This is likely the great Egypt, Jerusalem, Assyria
highway.
Isaiah 11:16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which
shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came
up out of the land of Egypt.
Isaiah 19:23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and
the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the
Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called
The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for
those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall
not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and
everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and
sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
(b) There is, I suppose, the possibility that some of
these verses refer to a spiritual highway that leads
to salvation. (I believe there will be a literal
highway built as the Jews return to Israel.)
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the
way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
(2) He will make the dessert into a river.
(a) \\#20\\ These waters shall be for both God’s people
and His animals.
(b) \\#21\\ When the people see these signs, they will
praise the Lord.
(c) These waters are mentioned often both in this book
and else where \\#Eze 47:1-12\\.
Isaiah 35:7 And the burning sand will become a pool, and the dry earth springs
of waters: the fields where the sheep take their food will become wet land, and
water-plants will take the place of grass.
Isaiah 41:18 I will make rivers on the dry mountain-tops, and fountains in the
valleys: I will make the waste land a pool of water, and the dry land springs
of water.
3. All of these signs together total four:
a. Regathering Israel
b. Destruction of Babylon
c. Way in the wilderness
d. Rivers in the desert
D. \\#22-28\\ Israel’s Present Condition
1. \\#22-24\\ Israel has been stubborn.
a. \\#22\\ They have not called upon the Lord.
b. \\#23\\ They have not offered sacrifices to the Lord.
c. \\#24\\ They have not offered offerings to the Lord.
d. \\#24\\ By refusing to bring the sacrifices so that the sins
could be forgiven, Israel has made the Lord "to serve with
thy sins." God has abode in a land filled with sinfulness.
2. \\#25-26\\ Israel has not honored the Lord.
a. \\#25\\ Jehovah is the God that "blots out transgressions,"
but such forgiveness must be sought. How sad it is to serve
a God who has made a way for forgiveness but to be a people
that will not seek it.
b. \\#26\\ God commands the people to remember or to honor Him.
3. \\#26-28\\ Therefore, Israel suffers.
a. \\#26\\ God again challenges the people to "declare" their
justifications \\#Is 41:1\\.
b. \\#27\\ But those who have before them (i.e. "thy first
father…and thy teachers") have both sinned and
transgressed against God.
c. \\#28\\ Because of that, God has "profaned the princes…
and given Jacob to curses and… reproaches." Israel was
a sinful people under judgment.
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