“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.” ~Isaiah 43:1

“But now, this is what the LORD says— He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.” ~Isaiah 43:1

Look! (or as people think Jesus spoke - “Behold!”). Can you see the entire grand narrative of the Bible in this verse? The entire Old Testament points to Jesus Christ. Every event is a forecast of what was to come. It truly is the good news. The gospel. The Eulogia (the Greek word where we get 'Eucharist').

It starts with creation, includes ‘the fall’ ('Jacob' is often used to refer to the naughty bunch who strayed from God), progresses thru the cross as Israel is formed (2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”) And BOTH Jacob and Israel are redeemed! Jacob is the old man and Israel is the new man in Christ, regardless of ethnicity!

God declares that we are HIS. He has given us a name by which He calls us. “Your name is now Israel” [from Genesis 35:10]. And then says….you are Mine! Remember this verse from Song of Solomon 6:3 “I am My Beloved’s and my beloved is mine!”. And this! “And you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate.” [Isaiah 62:2b]

The God Who has created everything that is, has named you and I as His beloved child, loved and cherished for eternity. Embrace that glorious divine hug. Let His light shine ON you and FROM  you as you journey through this year. We are HIS!

Written by Bonnie Chovanec, 2026