Isaiah 44:21-22 "Remember these, O Jacob
and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O
Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. (22) I have blotted out,
as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto
me; for I have redeemed thee."
It is good to remember the things we study in the Word of God, but in today's
verses we are told to remember something. It is spoken to Israel and Judah, but
it also applies somewhat to us. God reminds the people that He has formed them.
We spoke of that a few days ago when we saw that God can and does use
circumstances in life to form us. We might feel pressure at times, which to me,
is the action of God bringing us to the place where He would have us. The
pressure may not feel comfortable at the time, but God is using it to form and
fashion us. We are to remember these things. God says these things in our lives
will not be forgotten by Him. But the greatest thing that God has said He will
not forget is the fact that He has "blotted out... our
transgressions."
When I think of something being blotted out, I think of an eraser or someone using a black marker to obliterate the sight of something. A thing is covered over when it is blotted out. We often say that under the law, our sins were blotted out, or rolled forward for a year until the next offering of atonement was made. That took place for centuries until..... Sins were rolled forward until Jesus came to accomplish the work of redemption. We read concerning the sacrifices made under the law in Hebrews 10:3, "... in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year." We cannot cover our own sins; rather, we are reminded of our need for the Saviour. I'm so thankful that as we read in Hebrews 1:3, Jesus, "... by himself purged our sins..." That word, purged, means to completely wash off. Sins were no more covered over (blotted out); rather, they were completely washed away. Isaiah is a beautiful study of God's covenant that was already secured in His heart and mind. We see His intentions of dealing with our sins and as we continue in the study, we will see His plans on how He would bring that about. I'm so thankful that Jesus paid the price that I could not pay. I'm so thankful that it is "... Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Praise His holy name!