There Is No Savior Besides Me

God had long been observing the idolatry of Israel and Judah. He knew that no man could save them, so He would come and do it Himself. YHWH  made this declaration, ‘But now, this says YHWH, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, o Israel, ‘Do not fear, 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 will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am YHWH your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt and your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.’

Even though Israel had already been exiled and Judah would soon be exiled to fulfill the words of Moses and the calamities promised by the Law and covenant, God would be with His people wherever they would go. God keeps His Word. He chose Israel to be His particular people, and He will fulfill His covenants with them. This includes their long punishment and banishment from their land and the eventual return, which has been being fulfilled for a long time even now. ‘Do not fear, for I am wth you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Being my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My Name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.’

The call of God rings forth to bring out the people who are blind though they have eyes and deaf even though they have ears. All of the nations will gather together, in order that the peoples may be assembled. Who among them can declare why God has done this or proclaim the former things? God invites them to present their witnesses that they may be justified, or to simply hear and say, ‘It is true.’ Israel themselves are God’s witnesses. God will send His Servant in order that they would know and believe Him, so they could understand that He is YHWH. ‘Before Me there was no other God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I am YHWH; and there is no Savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you, so you are My witnesses, declares YHWH, and I am God. Even from eternity I am He; and there is none who can deliver out of my hand; I act and who can reverse it?’

That is perhaps one of the strongest statements in all of the Bible about who God is and what He does. God has told Hezekiah that the Babylonians would come and destroy the city and sanctuary. He warned through Moses that Israel would be exiled for idolatry. God declares what will happen and brings it to pass. He saved Israel from Egypt, He would scatter them to the nations. Every single country today can testify that Israel has been scattered there. God has accomplished what He said He would do. Then He came Himself, took on flesh and walked among them. He brought many back the first time, and they crucified Him. He accomplished salvation for the world.
Then He scattered them again for a long time. Their exile and trials happened according to the Word of God to Moses. The calamities have come upon Israel, but God is still with them. He will redeem the remnant of Israel and they will walk with Jesus when He returns as King of Kings and Lord of lords. God spoke long ago, telling everyone what He would do. He has done that. He is still doing His Word. And He will completely fulfill it. None can stop Him. He acts and no one can reverse it. There is no other God besides Him. And there never will be.

The very fact that Israel even exists proves that. God chose the most rebellious of peoples to be His own. He has exiled them, poured out calamities on them, and driven them away. He will also redeem them and bring them back. No, Israel is not righteous and perfect. They still walk in rebellion. But one day they will know their God in truth and He will redeem them from their sins. Their rebellion has allowed many others to know God and partake of the salvation He gives so freely to all who come to Him.