I have called you by name; you are mine.
"But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you; through rivers, you shall not be swept away. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor will flames consume you." (Isaiah 43:1–2) These verses from the prophet Isaiah articulate one of the most intimate declarations of divine commitment in all of Sacred Scripture. Addressed to Israel during the Babylonian exile—a time marked by loss, humiliation, and fear—God’s words speak of personal ownership, redeeming love, and unwavering presence. The passage opens with a divine reassurance grounded in both creation and redemption: God is not only the Creator of His people but also their Redeemer. The use of both "created" and "formed" underlines God's intentional and personal involvement in the origin and identity of His people. The imperative “D...