Designed for Destiny
Every promise in the Bible has been given to us believers as an inheritance. They are yes and amen to those who are in Christ Jesus. One such wonderful promise is found in Isaiah 43:1-3. It is a promise from God our creator to his chosen people, Israel. And we know that once we are born again in Christ, we become his people, Israel. The children of promise. The Passion Translation provides a beautiful expression of God’s promise in this verse.
It says, “Now, this is what Yahweh says: “Listen, Jacob, to the One who created you, Israel, to the one who shaped who you are. a Do not fear, for I, your Kinsman-Redeemer, will rescue you. I have called you by name, and you are mine. (Isa 43:1). We find three things God tells of us in this verse. He first created us, shaped us to become who we are and named us to be called by him for a purpose. It is obvious that God has a plan and a promise concerning us for which he owns us as His. There’s no need for a doubt if we have a purpose in life. But many of us who after receiving His mighty promise for us are halfway to the promised land, melting with fear over the challenges on the way. We are stuck and confused in the middle of the journey whether to proceed further or to decline. It is to those, God wants to remind of these three attributes He has in us to inherit the promise. He also says, When you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on me to be there with you. When you pass through raging rivers, You will not drown. When you walk through persecution like fiery flames, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you, for I am your Savior, Yahweh, your mighty God, the Holy One of Israel! (Isa 43:2,3).
God wants us to realise that we have been created, shaped and named by Him to rather face and overcome challenges and not to fear and give up. He says that He himself is with us to overcome them and reach the promised land. The 13th and 14th chapter of Numbers records the incident where Moses sends twelve spies on behalf of Israel to spy on the promised land. When they came back to report to Moses and the congregation on what they saw, except for Joshua and Caleb who carried a different spirit, the rest ten spies gave a negative report (seeing the giants) that caused the entire congregation to rebel against Moses and God. Whereas Joshua and Caleb said “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” (Num 14:7-9).
This is the attitude that God wants us to have towards ourselves and towards our challenges that come our way. Because we are designed in such a manner and the Holy one of Israel is standing with us. Even the giants and the challenges that are resisting us to move forward are aware of who we are. “For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:10-11). This was the view that the people in that promised land had towards the children of promise.
God wants us to change our view over us. He wants us to see ourselves the way He sees us. If you are stuck in middle of your way towards the promise land, change your perspective towards you and the giants you see. “For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land— Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land. They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.” (Jer 1:18-19).
His heart for us is to turn towards him, as we are created to experience His glory. “Bring me everyone who is called by my name, the ones I created to experience my glory. I myself formed them to be who they are and made them for my glory.” (Isa 43:7 TPT).
