No Other Savior
By Dean Collins
“I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.”
It doesn’t get much clearer. Yet for some reason, throughout all of history we have looked far and wide, high and low, thinking that there might be someone else who could rescue us in our times of need. We hope that a particular doctor, a unique business idea or product, a great network, or loyal friends and family members might fill the need. And all these things and people have their place and can be helpful, but there is only one who can be our savior.
I haven’t counted the times Isaiah delivers God’s direction to “fear not,” but I have noticed it several times as I read through chapters 40 and beyond. In chapter 41 we read:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
And in chapter 43:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
We of course know from the New Testament that we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus and are called God’s children. We are children of the King of kings! As children of the king, we have all the privileges that come with our new birth rite. Additionally, Isaiah shares that when we pass through the waters, God is with us. When we are in rivers of difficulty, they will not overwhelm us. When we walk through the firestorms of life, the flames will not consume us. Beautiful poetry for sure, but this is more than just lovely phrases to give us comfort. Isaiah is giving us assurance that as children who have been redeemed by God, we will never be abandoned or left on our own in times of danger. God always stays by our side.
As we embrace our place as children of the king, we are told not to cling to or worry about our past life and all the manipulations we have gone through to try and get the attention of someone who might rescue us. We are to place all our striving aside. We are not to focus on trying to keep all the laws perfectly so that we might earn God’s attention and receive his grace. Isaiah said that God is doing a new thing, and it has already come to life. Didn’t we just celebrate the resurrection of our savior and king?
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
We are redeemed and are now sons and daughters of the Almighty. Isaiah and Jesus agree that as long as we live in this broken space that is awaiting God’s final restoration when Jesus returns, we will experience wilderness moments and troubles in this world. But as Isaiah made clear and Jesus put an exclamation point on, we live in a condition where we do not have to fear but can rely completely on God’s deliverance.
Father, today we read your word with joy, and our hearts are filled with gratitude because we have been redeemed and live now as children of the king. Fill us with your Spirit, that we might act consistently with our calling and your kingdom ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Isaiah 41:8-10, 43:1-28 ESV
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