March 11: Who is He?

Read Isaiah 43:1-44:8

I once volunteered at my local polling station. At the time, North Dakota did not require voter registration or identification to vote.

All that someone needed to do was establish identity, and it was comical to listen to some of the ways voters did it.

Volunteer: What’s your name again?

Voter: Bill.

Volunteer: Where do you work?

Voter: I’m not working right now.

Volunteer: Who are your grandmas?

Voter: Sally and Gertrude.

Volunteer: Oh! Gertrude F.? My uncle lives next door to her. I will sign your affadavit.

Identity is wrapped up not only in a name, but also in an occupation, past actions, and relatives. I even heard one person describing where they lived as a child.

When God reveals His identity in Scripture, it often includes a description of how He forgives sin. Forgiveness is so wrapped up in His character that He uses that as a way to prove His identity.

Isaiah wrote that God said, “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior… I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

“Blots out” means wipes out, erases, obliterates. The Almighty God is identitifed by His unique ability to obliterate our sin. Just as an eraser’s job is to erase, the Forgiver’s identity is in forgiveness.

He creates, forms, redeems, calls, and forgives. This is Who He Is, and there is nothing we can do to change His character.

And after all this, all He asks is for us to be His witnesses- to testify to the saving work He has done in our hearts. How will you share His identity today?

Choose five descriptors of God and worship Him by those names or characteristics.

Do you think of God as your forgiver, the One who blots out your sin? Ask Him to help you acknowledge that part of His character more often.

Extra Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14