Exiled No More – Isaiah 43:1-7

“The Man Without a Country” is a short story by American writer Edward Everett Hale, published in 1863. It is the story of American Army lieutenant Philip Nolan, who angrily renounces his country during a trial for treason (he is accused of betraying his country in association with Aaron Burr). He is consequently sentenced to spend the rest of his days at sea without so much as a word of news about the United States.  He has been exiled, in effect, at his own request.  Israel will go through an exile, as Isaiah has predicted, but God wants her to know that her return is guaranteed.

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.  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.  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.  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.  Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.  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, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”  (Isaiah 43:1-7 ESV)

After detailing how He Himself has been punishing Israel for her sin, Yahweh turns and comforts her.  She must not believe that she doesn’t matter to Him.  On the contrary, she was formed by Him and belongs to Him and He will redeem her.  He will bring her back to her land from all the places to which she has been exiled when her discipline is through.  He is in covenant relationship with her, even as He is with us through Jesus Christ.

And so it may also be said to us that even though we walk through dangerous waters and fire, we will not be destroyed.  Because Yahweh our Savior is our God, He will do everything necessary to restore us to Himself.  We are precious in His eyes, honored and loved.  He will say to our captors, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth.”  Any spiritual exiling will end in a homecoming for the believer.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the furthest away from home you have ever been?  What is the longest you have been away from home?
2. What rivers and fires has Israel had to walk through down through the ages?
3. Even though Israel has a national homeland now, it is not in uniform submission to God.  Is God’s promise of a restoration of Israel to Himself still in play?
4. Have you ever felt spiritually “in exile”?  Explain.
5. How did God restore you from your “exile”?
6. What would you tell someone who has experienced an “exile” from God, a time of discipline from God?