Hi Pastor John.
RE: Isaiah 43:10–11
In Isaiah 43:10-11, why does God say there was no god formed after Him, nor is there a Savior other than Him? Wouldn’t this be Jesus who is the savior and who was formed after God? Or is it that because God and Jesus are one in spirit that God is including Jesus in his statements?
Isaiah 43
- Before me, no god was formed, and after me shall be none.
¶11. “I, even I, am Jehovah, and besides me, there is no Savior.
Thank you,
Anna
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Hi Anna.
Jesus would agree with what his Father said through Isaiah. You will remember that the apostles taught that the Son was God’s agent in creation. The author of Hebrews, for example, said of the Son that God, “has appointed him heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Heb. 1:2). However, when Jesus spoke of creation, he mentioned no one but the Father (Mk. 10:6; 13:19).
We know that the Father appoints others to positions of authority and calls them “gods” (e.g. Ex. 7:1; 22:28), and so, it is not surprise that the father would address the Son s “God”, as He did in Psalm 45:6:
- Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
- You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore, God, even your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
And yet, when Jesus was here, he spoke of the Father as the only God, and the only One who is holy (Mt. 19:17).
It is the same with “Savior”. Jesus is the only Savior that God has appointed for mankind (cf. Acts 4:12), but it is only because God has made Jesus who he is that he is able to save. I am sure that Jesus would say that God is the only Savior and that he, himself, is only God’s obedient servant.
When God said no other god was formed, He was speaking only of a god who could replace Him. Israel was acting as if there were other gods equal to their God, and God was telling them there was no such thing. And again, Jesus acknowledged this when he said, “My Father is greater than I” (Jn. 14:28).
Hope that helps!
Pastor John