Isaiah 43:10-13

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?"

Three statements in this passage, quoted at the mouth of the LORD God Almighty, are worth considering. God stakes His claim to oneness. He maintains that there is nobody else.

"...before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." There are those that say that there are many gods. These ones also claim that there are many ways to god. And they often say that the ways of the God of the Bible are "archaic" or something of that sort. But in this statement God Himself makes the claim that He is the only One. He has always existed, even from eternity past, and there was no other god formed before Him, neither shall there be any after. This should be sobering because it immediately calls into question ideas about God that go against what He has clearly stated to be true. For example, He says that there is only one way to Him; and that is His Son, who died for the sin of mankind. Our works do not impress Him. In fact, He says that they are as filthy rages in His sight (Isaiah 64:6). If that which we do cannot please Him, then we find ourselves in a bad situation. For we all know that we want to attain Heaven. God, the only God that ever there was, or ever will be, says that the only way is through Jesus Christ.

"I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior." He is the only savior. Nobody else can help us, not even we ourselves. All we are able to do is to fall short of His glory. But He is the savior! He took it in hand to make it possible for us to be saved from our sin. Seeing our helpless plight, He made the way to Himself available. And He did it at awful cost to Himself. For He sent His only Son, Who willingly came, to be punished for the sin of mankind. Our sin deserves His wrath, but through Jesus Christ there is no wrath. For God has poured out His wrath against our sin upon Jesus. Jesus was punished for our sin. He is the only savior, and beside Him there is no other. It is amazing to think that the one who is offended at our sins has determined to be our savior. And He is the only one.

"...there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall (hinder) it?" Indeed, If God takes an action, who can stop Him? He has provided a great salvation through His Son. Nobody could stop Him from doing that. Jesus went willingly to the cross for us. Since He is the only God, and the only Savior, the day will come when each and every one of us will face Him. He said that the wages of sin is death. And when He determines to act on that pronouncement, who will be able to stop Him? Who will be able to prevent Him from acting? For those that have taken Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior the LORD Jesus Christ Himself will stay the hand of God. For He has already been judged for their sake. But those who have not turned to Christ will face the awful wrath of God against their sin, and who will be able to stop Him? Scripture tells us that today is the day of salvation. It is not wise to ignore the only God, only Savior, who is infinitely able to act.

Just as I am without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidst me come to thee,
Oh, lamb of God, I come, I come.

HJK