Isaiah 48:17

Israel as a nation was redeemed from Egypt both by purchase and by power. As their Goel — their kinsman-redeemer — Jehovah brought them out of slavery with His "outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment." Centuries later, Assyria and then Chaldea carried the nation away into captivity. Again and again Jehovah sent them promises that He would deliver them by redemption. He called Himself "Jehovah, your Redeemer (Goel)," and added other titles such as "the Holy One of Israel." In these and other prophecies, Jehovah reminds His earthly people that He alone holds the "right of their redemption."

The Redeemer promised is Jehovah Himself. Throughout Isaiah He is called "the Holy One of Israel." This title of the Lord, who deals in judgment and in mercy with His people, appears twenty-five times in Isaiah… Only six other passages in the Old Testament use it. The Holy One of Israel is Jehovah; He is the Redeemer of His people. This Holy One is the Creator.

This part of the prophecy closes with a touching appeal. In it the LORD reminds Israel that He is their Redeemer. Having redeemed them, He is their Teacher to instruct them in His mind. Having instructed them, He is their Leader to take them in the way they should go — the way of blessing for themselves and of glory to God. In principle God takes the same way with His people today. Suppose the people of God, then and now, had listened to the teaching and followed the One who leads. How great their blessing would have been! How many sorrows they would have escaped.

At long last Israel will have learned to bend its shoulder to the easy yoke of Christ, and to find that learning from Him is true profit. This will be blessed rest at last, after weary years of greedily seeking gain only to lose it — "because they did not pursue it by faith."

In Isaiah 48 Jehovah at length pleads with Israel… He had told them many things long before, and had made new revelations to them, so that they might know that Jehovah is God. But they did not listen; they did not understand. Nevertheless, for the glory of His name Jehovah would not cut them off, but would refine them as silver. He reminds them in a moving way of the blessing they would have enjoyed had they kept His commandments.

Then (in verses 12-21) comes a tender appeal. It was carried out in measure at the return from captivity, but it is still to be fulfilled later in all its extent.

The word "Bethel," on the lips of the Lord and in the ear of Jacob, had done wonders… "Behold, God is exalted in His power; who is a teacher like Him?" After this second scene at Bethel He might well have challenged His erring child, now aware of his sin, and said to him in the words of Isaiah: "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go."