Marks of a Covenant

Thoughts based on Highly Favoured, chapter 5:

When God makes a covenant commitment to us as his people, he creates a relationship that is exclusive, secure, demanding, and full of purpose. We become his beloved family, closer to him than to anyone else.

In this passage, God speaks directly to his people, reminding us what that covenant relationship means.

God has been punishing his people for their stubborn refusal to listen to him, “But now”, starts the chapter (Isaiah 43:1), there is a change. “Don’t be afraid!” Why not? “Because you belong to me, in spite of everything. I have paid for you, called you by name. I know who you are. You are mine.”

Wow—to belong to God himself, that deeply!

But the next verse (Isaiah 43:2) makes it clear that our problems are not over. Three times it says “when”—not “if”. There are deep waters, rivers of difficulty and fires of oppression on our path. We should expect them. And in each case he says, “I will be with you.” We don’t receive exemption from problems. But we receive him. The same God who walked Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground will get us through. We are precious, honoured, and loved. He says it.

Reflect and discuss: 

You are precious, honoured, loved. Stop and hear that. 

Then tell God you hear him saying it to you and tell him how your heart feels about it. There may be water too deep for you and fires too hot in your life, problems too big. They don’t matter as much as God saying to you: I am the Lord your God.