https://odb.org/2025/12/17/inestimable-worth
Isaiah 43:1–7 (NIV): 43 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
The Bible paints another picture of underestimated value and forgotten worth. Isaiah the prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, told God’s people that even though they would be taken away to a foreign land where they would suffer and be devalued, He would still be with them: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine,” He assured them (Isaiah 43:1). Though they would “pass through the waters” and “walk through the fire” (v. 2), His faithfulness to them would not change. With words that point to His coming kingdom in Christ, God promised that He would one day restore “everyone who is called by my name” (v. 7) and bring them home to Him (James Banks, Our Daily Bread 17th December 2025).
We all know by now that the Israelites in Judah (Judeans) were brought into exile by the Babylonians due to their disobedience towards God. They were exiled for 70 years. This was their second exile, the first was by the Assyrians. That was against the Northern Kingdom of Israel and led to the loss of the ten northern tribes as there was no documented return of the northerners. In other words, those who were exiled then, over time, effectively became part of the Assyrians by assimilation. In the second exile, Babylon was subsequently overrun by the Persians and the Judeans were permitted by the Persian King, Cyrus the Great, to return to Israel to rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem (see the biblical account in Nehemiah).
Isaiah 43:5-7 is postulated as one of the ancient prophesies that foresaw the modern return of the Jewry from all over the world to Israel with the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Pastor Peter Tsukahira, a naturalised Israeli, often preached on this. However it is to be noted that after 70 years in exile, the Judeans did return to Israel even during those ancient times.
The exile and return of the Israelites during that Babylonian/Persian era speaks of both God’s judgment and compassion. He judged and yet He did not forsake them. It is a theme of God’s heart that we as modern-day believers in Jesus Christ must know. As much as the LORD may discipline or punish us for our disobedience, He is compassionate and forgiving if we were to repent from our wayward ways. Jesus taught this very clearly from the parable of the Prodigal Son.
Do not be afraid or run further away from God if we had been disobedient. Return to Him like the Judeans did after 70 years in Babylon. In our case, He will forgive us. He is a loving and compassionate God. For as proclaimed in Isaiah 43:4 – we are precious and honoured in His sight, because He loves us. Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 