Called by Name

"But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. ² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you."

Isaiah 43:1-2

God did a phenomenal thing in birthing the Jewish nation out of slavery in Egypt.  It was a demonstration of love and grace which rivals the salvation God has provided Jew and Gentile through faith in Jesus Christ.  See what God said to the Hebrews in in Deuteronomy 7:7-8:  "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; ⁸ but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."  God set His love on His people because He loved them; He chose them because He would keep His word to redeem them.  God did not save His people because of their goodness, but because He is good.

Though Israel would later demand a king like the other nations, forsake His Law, and bow down before idols, God did not disown His people.  Though He chastened them to repentance with famine, drought, war, and captivity, the God who formed and chose Israel would protect and uphold them.  He delivered them to the Syrians and Babylonians for their iniquities, but He would remember them and cause them to enter the land He promised to their fathers once again.  Even in the darkest times He commanded them to fear not because He was their Redeemer.  The rivers would flood but would not overwhelm His people.  Though the fire raged hot they would not be burned from His memory.  He said, "I have called you by your name; you are Mine."

How glorious it is, that the one who formed and knows us would call our name!  In the book of Esther young maidens were prepared for one year before going into the presence of the king of Persia.  Esther 2:14 details what occurred after appearing before the king:  "In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name."  One word which stands out in this verse is "custody."  The luxury afforded the concubines of the king provided comfort, but individual freedom was restricted.  A woman who appeared before the king was not free to go wherever she wanted but would remain in seclusion unless the king "delighted in her and called for her by name."  I imagine many tears were shed in this house as many women languished in their youth with silence from the king, pining to be remembered and delighted in.  How the clouds would lift to be called by your king by name!

God delighted in Jacob and gave him a new name.  God blessed Jacob in Genesis 32:28:  "And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."  God claimed Israel as His treasured inheritance, and the New Covenant by the blood of Jesus in no way lessens the impact of the grace and goodness God has shown the Jews.  It is amazing how through Jesus Christ all people can have fellowship with the Creator who delights in us and calls us by name.  We languished in a prison awaiting death for our sin, but at the call of our Saviour Jesus Christ we have come out of darkness and into His marvellous light.  God promised to be with His people, and Christians are reminded of God's word to us in Hebrews 13:5, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  The Almighty God delights in us and calls us by His name, and let us eternally praise and worship Him for this!