Isaiah 43:1

But now, thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, not only in the act of creation, but in the sense of making the descendants of Jacob His own peculiar people, a distinction which has now been transferred to the spiritual Israel, the Church of God, Fear not, namely, after the stern reproofs of the last chapter and on account of the natural feeling of sinfulness and unworthiness, for I have redeemed thee, His main activity ever consisting in His ransoming His children from the power of their enemies; I have called thee by thy name, thereby expressing the relation of intimate friendship which He wanted to exist; thou art Mine, His incomparable love causing Him to regard Israel as His precious possession, which He treasures with all the power of His eternal mercy.