On November 10, 1941, Dr. Ludwig Fischer (the German district governor of Warsaw, Poland) issued a proclamation declaring that anyone who gave any assistance to Jews—including lodging, food, or transportation—would be punished by death. Despite this decree, some people still assisted Jews in escaping from the horrendous Warsaw Ghetto and the deportation to death camps like Auschwitz. The Yad Vashem museum in Jerusalem honors some 5,000 Poles as “righteous Gentiles” for risking their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
Our God also chooses to save. All we sinners were condemned to die as surely as the Jews during the war and those who assisted them, until God decided to redeem us. Today's passage focuses on what it means to be chosen for saving mercy, what it means to be the people of God and to belong to Him. For starters, this is not a relationship between equals. He's the Creator, we're the creatures. All the rights lie on His side. Israel had no right to “talk back.” Rather, they were to be a revelation and evidence of His Godhood (43:12). If they'd forgotten the covenant, they could look back to the Exodus and the mighty way God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt.
Another feature of God's relationship with Israel is His unconditional love. He's the One who called, redeemed, and promised to be with them always. He remained faithful and merciful despite their idolatry. Though He was about to send punishment, He vowed to protect them from complete destruction. Even more, He would later judge the Babylonians. Although the Israelites of Isaiah's day didn't worship or honor the Lord, or believe and respond to His prophet's message, still He promised the salvation of a remnant and justice on their enemies. His forgiveness has its own purposes (43:25), and His love is the true glory of chosenness (44:5).
posted by I love Jesus! ! ! @ Wednesday, June 20, 2007
<< Home