I Have Called You by Name
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you"
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What does it say?
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The whole message, in shortThe main points of the whole message, in a few sentences.
To his people in exile, who felt forgotten, God said, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!" He promised to be with them when they passed through deep waters and fire, because they were precious to him. He promised to do something new, making a way in the wilderness, and to blot out their sins and remember them no more.
Where it is in the Bible: Isaiah 43
All the sections at a glanceA map of the message, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Message
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. You Are Mine | 43:1 | God calls his people by name |
| 2. Through the Waters | 43:2-4 | God will be with them in danger |
| 3. Gathered From Everywhere | 43:5-7 | God will bring his scattered people home |
| 4. Something New | 43:16-21 | God will make a way in the wilderness |
| 5. Your Sins No More | 43:22-25 | God forgives for his own sake |
Before You Read
Who it's for. God's people in exile in Babylon. Their city and temple were destroyed. They felt forgotten and punished.
What comes before. In chapter 42, God says his people are like prisoners in a dark pit (42:22). They had not listened to him.
What this passage is. God answers with some of the most tender words in the Bible. Two passages from the same chapter: a promise of protection (43:1-7) and a promise of something new (43:16-25).
How to read it. Notice how many times God says "I" and "Mine." This is God speaking about what he will do.
Section by Section
Section 1 of 5You Are Mine
God speaks as the one who created and formed his people.
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!" (43:1).
To redeem means to buy back, to set free by paying a price.
Section 2 of 5Through the Waters
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you" (43:2).
"When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched" (43:2).
God doesn't promise there will be no deep waters or fire. He promises he will be there in them.
"Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you" (43:4).
Section 3 of 5Gathered From Everywhere
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you" (43:5).
God will call to the east, west, north, and south: give back my sons and daughters.
Everyone called by his name will come home.
Section 4 of 5Something New
God reminds them of the Exodus. He made a path through the sea and defeated Egypt's army.
But then he says something surprising. "Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old" (43:18).
"Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it?" (43:19).
"Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert" (43:19).
Section 5 of 5Your Sins No More
God tells the truth. The people hadn't called on him. They had grown tired of him.
"But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities" (43:24).
Then comes the surprise. Not punishment, but forgiveness.
"I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more" (43:25).
Transgressions are sins, times of crossing the line. God forgives because of who he is, not because of what they did.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "I have called you by your name; you are Mine!" (43:1) | God knows you personally and claims you. |
| "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (43:2) | God doesn't promise no troubles, but his presence in them. |
| "You are precious and honored in My sight" (43:4) | God treasures his people. |
| "I am about to do something new" (43:19) | God isn't finished. He makes new beginnings. |
| "A way in the wilderness" (43:19) | God makes a path where there isn't one. |
| "Remembers your sins no more" (43:25) | When God forgives, he doesn't hold it against you. |
Back Then
Egypt, Cush, and Seba were powerful lands. Cush and Seba were south of Egypt. God says he would give up whole nations for his people, to show how much he values them.
The Exodus was Israel's great rescue story. God led them out of Egypt through the sea (Exodus 14). God promises an even greater rescue.
Persia would let the exiles go home. King Cyrus allowed the people to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-3).
Literal Reader Alert
Does God promise that I'll never get hurt? No. He promises to be with you in the deep waters and the fire. You won't go through them alone.
Should we forget the past? God doesn't want us to forget what he did. He wants us to look for the new things he is doing now, not to stay stuck in the past.
Did God "give" nations away? This is a picture of how precious God's people are to him. He would give anything for them.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| God's people | Afraid | They were far from home (43:5) |
| God's people | Tired | They had grown weary of God (43:22) |
| God's people | Loved | "You are precious... I love you" (43:4) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which promise do you need today? Tap one.
You are Mine
God knows your name and claims you.
Deep waters
When you go through them, he is with you.
Something new
God is making a way, even now.
My sins
God blots them out and remembers them no more.
You Might Have Heard
"God keeps a list of everything you've done wrong."
What's true: God knows everything. Sin is real.
What the passage is mainly about: God says, "I... remembers your sins no more" (43:25). God chooses to forget. He forgives for his own sake, because of his love.
Where Jesus is: Jesus passed through the deep waters of suffering and the fire of the cross. He paid the price to redeem us, and he calls each of his sheep by name (John 10:3).
Good News
God's people felt forgotten. God said, "You are Mine."
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!" (43:1).
In Jesus, God has redeemed you. In baptism, he called you by name. You belong to him, and he will be with you in every deep water.
"Do not fear. I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine." God is with his people, and he remembers their sins no more.
Big Idea
God says, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are Mine." He is with us in deep waters, and he forgives our sins.
If this message brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught people to remember their baptism when they were afraid. In hard times, he would say, "I am baptized." God had called him by name and claimed him.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year C, it reads Isaiah 43:1-7 on the Baptism of Our Lord and Isaiah 43:16-21 on the Fifth Sunday in Lent. In Year B, it reads Isaiah 43:18-25 on the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
How did that feel?
You finished I Have Called You by Name.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany Year BFirst reading, Isaiah 43:18–25
- Baptism of Our Lord Year CFirst reading, Isaiah 43:1–7
- Fifth Sunday in Lent Year CFirst reading, Isaiah 43:16–21
For a newsletter or sermon notes
I Have Called You by Name, explained in plain words. God's people feel forgotten. He says, "You are Mine." About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/i-have-called-you-by-name/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church