The Baptism of the LORD (OT)

Isaiah 43:1-13

But now thus says the Lord,

       he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

       “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

²    When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

       when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

³    For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

       I give Egypt as your ransom,

Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

⁴    Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honored, and I love you,

       I give men in return for you,

peoples in exchange for your life.

⁵    Fear not, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring from the east,

and from the west I will gather you.

⁶    I will say to the north, Give up,

and to the south, Do not withhold;

       bring my sons from afar

and my daughters from the end of the earth,

⁷    everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made.”

⁸    Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,

who are deaf, yet have ears!

⁹    All the nations gather together,

and the peoples assemble.

       Who among them can declare this,

and show us the former things?

       Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,

and let them hear and say, It is true.

¹⁰    “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,

“and my servant whom I have chosen,

       that you may know and believe me

and understand that I am he.

       Before me no god was formed,

nor shall there be any after me.

¹¹    I, I am the Lord,

and besides me there is no savior.

¹²    I declared and saved and proclaimed,

when there was no strange god among you;

and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

¹³    Also henceforth I am he;

there is none who can deliver from my hand;

I work, and who can turn it back?”

I wonder why people don't pick up on walking through water and walking through fire as literal gifts of the spirit. God does not want us to tempt him, but does desire us to trust him. God will call his people from North and South, gathering them from all the Nations.

God has made Isaiah a witness to his truth. There is no other god beside him. People have created many gods, but these are human creations. People have placed their trust in many saviors and heroes. They even proclaim to have proof for things made up. But God stands before Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, the Twelve, and makes them his witnesses. 

God stands before you and claims you from wherever you maybe to be his witness. He sent his Son to die for your sins. He created you. He continues to give you breath. He washes you with water, and even purifies you with fire. There is only one Lord and one Savior of the nations, he is Jesus Christ the only Son of the Father.