Read & explore together
Deliverance Promised to Israel
This prophecy and teaching calls Jacob and Israel to listen carefully. The passage presents Yahweh’s claims as Creator and Redeemer, speaks about action against Babylon, includes one sent by the Lord Yahweh with his Spirit, and ends with a warning about peace.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Isaiah 48:12–22 addresses Jacob and Israel directly. It begins with claims about being first and last and about creating earth and heavens, then announces action concerning Babylon and the Chaldeans. It continues with teaching about commandments, redemption, and guidance, before closing with both joyful departure and a final warning.
Isaiah 48:12–22Main takeaway
This passage presents Yahweh as Creator and Redeemer, calls Jacob to hear and obey, announces redemption from Babylon, and ends by saying there is no peace for the wicked.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Jacob is called to listen to the CreatorThe passage opens by calling Jacob and Israel to listen. It says, “I am he”, “the first”, and “the last”.
Explanation
The passage opens by calling Jacob and Israel to listen. It says, “I am he”, “the first”, and “the last”. The speaker points to the foundation of the earth and the spreading out of the heavens. Creation stands together when called, showing why these words carry weight.
02A public announcement about Babylon is givenThe people are told to assemble and hear. The passage says one loved by Yahweh will act against Babylon and the Chaldeans, and says, “I have called him” and “I have brought him”.
Explanation
The people are told to assemble and hear. The passage says one loved by Yahweh will act against Babylon and the Chaldeans, and says, “I have called him” and “I have brought him”. It also says these words were not spoken in secret, and verse 16 adds, “the Lord Yahweh has sent me with his Spirit.”
03Yahweh teaches for Israel’s goodVerse 17 names Yahweh as Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel. He says he teaches his people to profit and leads them in the way they should go.
Explanation
Verse 17 names Yahweh as Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel. He says he teaches his people to profit and leads them in the way they should go. Then the passage laments that they had not listened to his commandments. Peace like a river and righteousness like sea waves are pictured as the result they missed.
04Redemption is announced, but the wicked lack peaceThe passage says their descendants would have been many and not cut off. Then comes the command to leave Babylon and flee from the Chaldeans, with joyful shouting that Yahweh has redeemed Jacob.
Explanation
The passage says their descendants would have been many and not cut off. Then comes the command to leave Babylon and flee from the Chaldeans, with joyful shouting that Yahweh has redeemed Jacob. It recalls water flowing from the rock in the deserts, yet closes with a sharp contrast: the wicked have no peace.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does the passage give for Jacob and Israel to listen?
Notice the titles used in verses 12 and the creation claims in verse 13.
02What does the passage say publicly about Babylon, and what unusual statement appears in verse 16?
Read the lines about the one acting against Babylon, then note the words, “the Lord Yahweh has sent me with his Spirit.”
03How does the ending contrast redeemed Jacob with the wicked?
Compare the joyful announcement to leave Babylon with the final sentence about peace.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 48:12–22
12“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he. I am the first. I am also the last.
13Yes, my hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spread out the heavens. when I call to them, they stand up together.
14“Assemble yourselves, all of you, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? He whom Yahweh loves will do what he likes to Babylon, and his arm will be against the Chaldeans.
15I, even I, have spoken. Yes, I have called him. I have brought him and he shall make his way prosperous.
16“Come near to me and hear this: “From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it happened, I was there.” Now the Lord Yahweh has sent me with his Spirit.
17Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: “I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go.
18Oh that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19Your offspring also would have been as the sand and the descendants of your body like its grains. His name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.”
20Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With the sound of joyful shouting announce this, tell it even to the end of the earth; say, “Yahweh has redeemed his servant Jacob!”
21They didn’t thirst when he led them through the deserts. He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them. He also split the rock and the waters gushed out.
22“There is no peace”, says Yahweh, “for the wicked.”