We’ve been looking at the names of God and how his names help us understand him better. This week I want to look at the name, ‘Redeemer’.

God is often called the ‘Redeemer’ of the Israelites, particularly in the Book of Isaiah.

So what does it mean that God is the Redeemer of Israel? To redeem something means to regain something in exchange for payment. An obvious example is to pay for the return of a friend who was captured by an enemy.

So does God redeem his people? Yes. Again and again, God redeemed the Israelites from their enemies. For example, he redeemed them from the Egyptians under Moses in the book of Exodus, he redeemed them from the Midianites under Gideon in the Book of Judges, he redeemed them from the Philistines under David in the Book of 1 Samuel, he redeemed them from the Babylonians under Ezra in the Book of Ezra.

But most importantly, God redeemed his people from slavery to sin, and all the consequences of sin, including death. The Apostle Paul says: ‘So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir’ (Galatians 4:3-7).

How did God redeem his people? Paul said it was by sending his Son. Earlier in Galatians he explained: ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit’ (Galatians 3:13-14). Christ also said about himself: ‘the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28).

The ransom price to set God’s people free from sin was death. And so Jesus died the death that his people deserve.

So how do God’s people receive the blessings of redemption? As Paul said, it is by faith in him that we receive the blessings of God.

What are the blessings of God’s redeemed people? Adoption into his family is one of the great blessings – Paul mentioned it in the quote above.

Another blessing of redemption by God is eternal life. Job said: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes– I, and not another’ (Job 19:25-27).

So is God your Redeemer? Has he redeemed you from sin and hell by his Son? Have you received the Lord Jesus as your Saviour by faith? Do you know that your Redeemer lives and even after your skin has been destroyed, you will in your flesh see God?

Joel Radford