Made for His Glory

"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

For I am the Lord your God,

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I gave Egypt for your ransom,

Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Since you were precious in My sight,

You have been honored,

And I have loved you;

Therefore I will give men for you,

And people for your life.

Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
 Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created (bara) for My glory;
I have formed (yatsar) him, yes, I have made (asah) him.” - Isaiah 43: 1-7

God uses the word asah in Hebrew to describe how he "made" us for His glory in Isaiah 43:7.  We were made to be instruments of worship, honor and reverence to Him.  The word asah has the connotation of being made from precious metal like silver or gold.  Reading the above passage that proceeds that verse, He says that we will pass through the waters and through the fire, as metal is often molded by fire, cooled by water, and transformed into something beautiful. 

This is how our trials work in God's mighty creative hands.  Each trial is fashioning us into who He wants us to be, making us even more precious in His sight, and more honored.

He speaks of giving men for us, and people for our life.   In Romans 9:21 we read "Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?"  Some are born with God having clear knowledge that they will not be saved, and will die and go to Hell.  He sees the future as the past.  But He permits them to be in this world so that struggle can occur, as vessels of dishonor, and in the above passage says "I will give men for you and people for your life."  How great is the love of God who spares nothing to transform us into what He wants us to be!  He not only gave His own Son, but continues to give others. 

Look back at the terrorist bombing on 9/11.  Can you see how a terrible event that cost so many lives, some honorable and some dishonorable, brought so many back to God in prayer and fellowship that they had walked away from?  Can you see how the threat of ISIS is causing people to value their freedom to be Christians? 

In all things - good and bad and horrible - God works for one purpose.  He works to create and recreate in us a vessel of great honor for His glory.