Isaiah 44: He was born Jacob but the Lord saw him as Jeshurun.
Jacob To Jeshurun is a little-known name change found in the scriptures. In Isaiah forty-four, verse two, we see that Isaiah uses the name Jeshurun rather than Jacob. The prophet used this rarely-seen name for the biblical patriarch Jacob. If you’re like me, or most people, you skip past the name when you read it in the text. But there is value in every word of the scriptures. Name changes often tell us many things about what the Lord did with a particular individual. And, it is wise to see what applications we can make to ourselves and the Body of Christ.
This name change by the Lord, from Jacob to Jeshurun, was significant for the Patriarch. It is also important for the future Nation of Israel and the Jewish People who followed his pattern of spiritual weakness. Like the Patriarch, The Jews were spiritually strong sometimes. Unfortunately, those times were rare. His ‘given name’ Jacob has the meaning of supplanter or deceiver. That is why I refer to him as a liar in this article. He set a pattern in his life as one who would trick, connive, or deceive in order to gain for his own good.
Jacob to Jeshurun. His life’s journey
He famously tricked his hungry brother into giving up his birthright for a bowl of beans. His brother Esau was foolish and despised his birthright. But Jacob took advantage of that.
But this name change of course is also important for Christians to consider. We all struggle in many of the same ways. Indeed, Jacob serves as a fantastic model of humanity. He was a strong man physically. This should be obvious to us as we read his life’s story. He wasn’t physically a match for his brother Esau. But compared to the easy lifestyle of modern humanity, Jacob lived a rugged existence.
Jacob wrestled with men, sometimes losing but more times than not, he came out a winner. He had his famous wrestling match with The Angel of the Lord. He lost of course, but came out with a win just for his effort.
Jacob is one of the three great patriarchs in the history of the Nation of Israel. The scriptures tell of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jews and Christians alike are well-acquainted with the third member of the patriarchal family. But of the three, Jacob was the one with the most glaring flaws. As such, he serves as the best example for the rest of us. We can learn from his mistakes and see how the mercy of The Lord provides a renewed opportunity to “do better the next time.”
In the following, I break up each verse, provide an instructive caption, add minimal commentary, and allow the reader to consider how they compare to the Patriarch.
Some biblical Commentary on Jacob to Jeshurun
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 2. – The Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb (see Isaiah 43:1, 7).
“From the womb” is added here for increased emphasis. Jesurun. The Lord’s people have their proper names – Jacob, Israel, Jesurun, or rather, Jeshurun. “Jacob” marks them simply as descendants of the patriarch – the people to whom the promises were made. “Israel” marks their militant character – that as “God’s soldiers” they fought his battles and maintained his cause in the midst of a hostile world. The third name, “Jeshurun,” which is very rarely used (only here and in Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 33:5, 26), designates them as “righteous,” being a derivative from the root yashar (or joshar), equivalent to “upright,” and points to that standard of moral excellence which it was their duty to set forth, and which to some extent they did set forth, in a world that “lay in wickedness.” Had they been more worthy of the name, it would probably have been oftener applied to them. Isaiah 44:2
Benson Commentary
Deuteronomy 32:15. Jeshurun — Israel is called Jeshurun, both here and chap. Deuteronomy 33:5; Deuteronomy 33:26; as also Isaiah 44:2. Some consider the word as being derived from שׁור, shur, to see, and think the appellation was given to them because they were so highly favored with divine manifestations. But it is much more probable that it is derived from ישׁר, jashar, to be right, upright, or righteous, and that they are called Jeshurun, because they were a people professing righteousness, and were governed by righteous laws. Moses might also give them this name by way of instruction, to remind them what they ought to be, and by way of reproof, to show them what a shame it was that they should degenerate so far from their name and profession.
The Blessings of Israel
Isaiah 44:1 Jacob to Jeshurun
“But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen.
Jacob, the Patriarch, was chosen by the Lord for a special service. Christians are adopted into the promised blessings. They don’t replace the Chosen People.
44: 2 Jacob to Jeshurun was the Lord’s Plan
Thus says the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant, and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
Jacob was formed in the womb as all of us were. But his name (or names) were specially set apart to have a significant meaning. For the individual and his numerous struggles. Also for the Jewish People and the Nation, they would eventually establish in the Land of Canaan. In this verse we see Isaiah use that rarely used name for Jacob. It symbolized his future blessed.
And Christians too struggle with weaknesses and eventually, by God’s grace, if we endure, will also be called the Blessed Ones who enter into the final blessings of eternity.
44:3 “Pour Out My Spirit on your Offspring”
‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring. And My blessing on your descendants.
Blessings are offered for Jews and Gentiles who follow God’s Law. But as we read in Romans and Galatians, the Law of the Old Testament had a purpose but following those ‘rules’ are not as important as the principles of Godly living that Jesus presented in his many sermons.
44:4 “Like trees by the river”
And they will spring up among the grass. Like poplars by streams of water.’
44:5 Jacob to Jeshurun: “Belong to the Lord”
“This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’S’, and that one will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the LORD..’ And will name Israel’s name with honor.
Today, Israel and the Jews are hated by millions around the world. But eventually, it will be an honor to take the name of Jacob or Israel.
44:6 “I am the First and the Last”
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts. ‘I am the first and I am the last. And there is no God besides Me.
Here we see the King of Israel, Yahweh, claim a title that Jesus takes upon himself in the opening chapters of the Book of Revelation.
44:7 “Who is like Me?”
‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it. Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, from the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming, and the events that are going to take place.
There is none like Yahweh, or the second person of the Godhead, Jesus.
44:8 “Is there any God besides Me?”
‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid. Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me? Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’”
The Folly of Idolatry
Isaiah 44:9 Those who worship false gods will face shame
Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit. Even their own witnesses fail to see or know so that they will be put to shame.
44:10 No true prophet or profit in a false god.
Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no profit?
44:11 “Let them tremble” who make false gods
Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them tremble, let them together be put to shame.
44:12 Jacob to Jeshurun was the Lord’s great handiwork
The man shapes iron into a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, fashioning it with hammers and working it with his strong arm. He also gets hungry and his strength fails. He drinks no water and becomes weary.
44:13 Men make false idols. Only God can change Jacob to Jeshurun
Another shapes wood, he extends a measuring line. He outlines it with red chalk. He works it with planes and outlines it with a compass, and makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of man, so that it may sit in a house.
44:14 Idol craftsmen use God’s trees to fashion foolishness
Surely he cuts cedars for himself and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow.
44:15 He makes a god and worships
Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself, he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it, he makes it a graven image and falls down before it.
44:16 “I have seen the fire”
Half of it he burns in the fire, over this half, he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.”
44:17 With wood, the craftsman makes a graven image.
But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.”
44:18 “Their eyes cannot see…their hearts…cannot comprehend”
They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend.
44:19 “I fall down before a block of wood!”
No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!”
44:20 “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
He feeds on ashes, a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
Jacob to Jeshurun. God Forgave and Redeemed Jacob.
Isaiah 44:21 God’s Work: Jacob to Jeshurun “I have formed you, you are My servant.”
“Remember these things, O Jacob. And Israel, for you, are My servant. I have formed you, you are My servant. O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.
44:22 “Return to Me.”
“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud. And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
44:23 “The Lord has redeemed Jacob”
Shout for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth. Break forth into a shout of joy, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob. And in Israel, He shows forth His glory.
44:24 “I, the Lord am the maker of all things.”
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb. “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things. Stretching out the heavens by Myself. And spreading out the earth all alone.
44:25 “Making fools our of diviners.”
Causing the omens of boasters to fail. Making fools out of diviners. Causing wise men to drawback. And turning their knowledge into foolishness.
44:26 “It is I who says of Jerusalem…I will raise up her ruins.”
Confirming the word of His servant, and performing the purpose of His messengers. It is I who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited!’ And of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built.’ And I will raise up her ruins again.
44:27 It is God’s work to change Jacob to Jeshurun and to dry up the rivers of the wicked
“It is I who says to the depth of the sea, ‘Be dried up!’ And I will make your rivers dry.
44:28 The Lord calls King Cyrus and says, “He is my shepherd!”
“It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire,’ and he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”
Related Content:
The Chosen Servant of God: Isaiah 42 part one: Jesus
The Blind servant in darkness: Isaiah 42: 14-25
Jesus is the Savior, God, and the I Am. Isaiah 43:8-13
White Stone Watcher
Hello readers,
I have served as a children and youth pastor for over three decades. It was a great honor and pleasure to serve the Lord in that way. It has been my prayer, that many of them will learn of Jesus’ love and decide to commit their lives to following Him.
I wrote the fiction story, ‘White Stone Watcher’ for them and their parents. In the story, we see a young man, and his best friend, Amanda. They face the normal challenges that today’s kids face at school. But with one huge difference.
Their challenge is twelve feet tall to be exact with an enormous set of six wings. Just like the prophet Isaiah saw in the throne room of God. He is a Watcher, an angelic being who is still invisible to Amanda. The messenger from God is about to lead both on a spiritual journey. They find they cannot escape the unseen war that rages all around them. They will become key players that God will use in the battle between the Sons of Darkness and the Children of Light.
I invite you to pray about a youth who might enjoy and benefit from this story. As the world grows darker, our youth must become aware that the Lord is calling them to join the Children of Light in the fight for what is righteous. We are all involved, whether we realize it or not. If they don’t go to church, maybe they will read a book about someone just like them facing challenges at school.
God is calling them Praying for the youth, and a great awakening.
Pastor Doug
Let me know what you think.