Verse of the Post: Isaiah 43:1 - (Tree of Life Version)
But now, thus says Adonai— the One who created you, O Jacob, the One who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are Mine.
If you were to look over the entire bible, you would notice a few recurring themes. Of those themes, “transformed identity” jumps out. We see it on both small and large scales.
Let’s take the Book of Judges, for example. This book covers the period of time when the people of Israel finally made it to their promised land, flowing with milk and honey, after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. The person God chose to lead after Moses, Joshua, calls the people of Israel to be faithful in their covenant with God by obeying the commandments (God’s word). This would distinguish them as Holy people and show others what God is like. Then Joshua dies, and this is where the Book of Judges begins.
But the people did what was pleasing to them instead of what was pleasing to the Lord. Forgetful of all that He had done and their commitment to Him. The people were choosing to live in an ongoing cycle of sin — blasphemy, murders, rape, adultery, idolatry, among other things. This time era was considered “lawless.” And in these pages, you’ll notice the Bible repeatedly stating in some format, “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”
God, being upset with their behavior, declares He’s been abandoned by them and responds by abandoning the people of Israel. So, their sin leads them into bondage and oppression by conquerers or foreign enemies. They would come to a point of great sorrow, seeming to transform their heart, which eventually led to their repentance. But only for a moment. Because after pleading with God, He would forgive them and raise a deliverer who would restore peace. Things would be fine as that deliverer lived. However, once this, or Judge, dies, the people would go back to their sins, falling again, sometimes even worse off than before.
Now, let’s focus on a more individual level by looking at the deliverer. Each time God raised one up, it wasn’t as some may suspect — the deliverer was born, and now this child will grow to be the deliverer we need, which was the case with Moses, John, and Jesus. It was more like they were walking one day (figuratively), doing what they had been doing every day of their fully grown, fully developed lives, and then an angel would visit, they’d talk and then boom.. the spirit of the Lord would rest upon them. And then badabing, they would instantly be transformed, leaving that encounter as a completely newly empowered person or transformed in some way compared to who they were just moments before.
Now, stay with me now.. even if we zoom out.. getting a high-level view, the entire Bible offers a story of transformation on earth and in the hearts of humans. Constantly, we see sin being introduced by way of someone’s actions, followed by God sending difficult and uncomfortable circumstances to soften the heart, moments of repentance, and then a repetitious decision to sin again. And God would continue to deliver His children and others, which displays how loving, merciful, and graceful He is. This also gives true context to the meaning of Jesus’s birth, death, and resurrection. Before Jesus, we, as a race, could not escape sin. The bible says we were slaves to sin. But then Jesus… Then God, came onto earth in the form of man and showed why He is Adonai.. the Lord who rules, the master of all worlds, the owner of all.. and He has claimed us, as His own. Death couldn’t hold Him. The powers of this world, of the prince.. couldn’t reign over the One True Lord.
Our verse says…
But now, thus says Adonai— the One who created you, O Jacob, the One who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1 (Tree of Life Version)
Some versions say use words like ransomed.. saved.. payed the price instead of leaving you captives… POINT BEING: THE CHAINS HAVE BEEN BROKEN.. YOU ARE FREE. EVERY CHAIN OF SIN + IT’S COUSINS N’EM.. Every chain associated with binding spirits.. every chain associated with trauma responses.. every chain associated with growing up in broken homes.. every chain of depression.. every chain of anxiety.. every chain of addiction.. every chain of brokenness.. it’s been broken. You are FREE. You can walk away. You have dominion. You can be who you truly want to be.. right here, right now. So.. who will you be?
If God says, “My Son, My Daughter.. I see every single thing.. I knew all of who you are, down to the number of your blood cells in your body. And I declared you as my perfect creation. My most wonderful masterpiece. You no longer need to stay where you are.. You no longer need to see yourself that way.. you no need to talk to yourself that way.. you no longer need to doubt yourself.. you no longer need to be timid.. you no longer need to feel afraid of what might happen. I’m here. I’m in control. I love you. and I say you are free to choose to stay, but you can also choose to come with me..”
What would you do? Which path would you choose? Better yet, how would the freest version of you walk this earth, knowing your Father, our Lord, Adonai, is standing both on the sidelines, ahead and behind you, making sure you get to wherever you’re heading? That He’s got your back and would not let anything change His mind about you or take His love away from you? Who would you be?
Meditate on this verse from 2 Corinthians Ch 5 as you contemplate: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (v. 17 - NLT)
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