Isaiah 44:6

The Incomparability of God (Isaiah 44:6).

Having declared this wonderful work of the Spirit Yahweh puts it in the context of what He is. Only He could have done such a thing. In the calling of Abraham and the bringing of him into the land He was ‘the first and with the last' (Isaiah 41:4), and now that calling of Abraham as His servant who loved Him has resulted in this blessing from Him Who is ‘the first and the last'. What he commences and promises, He completes. 

‘Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel,

And his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts.

“I am the first and the last,

And beside me there is no God.” '

Here Yahweh is described as both King and Redeemer to Israel. This was His purpose, that He might rule over them and deliver them. Note that ‘King' comes first. It was as their King by His own choosing that He planned to redeem them. Note also the contrast between Yahweh the king and Yahweh of hosts. First He is King and Overlord and then He goes into battle on their behalf. Thus all happens because ‘Yahweh reigns'. Isaiah would have very much in mind here His experience in the Temple (Isaiah 6:1).

Then He lets them know What He is. ‘I am the first and the last.' Compare Isaiah 41:4. That is, He sums up time. He begins it and ends it. And He was before all things and all things will be summed up in Him (compare Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 1:17; Revelation 2:8). He leads the way into history and He follows up at the end. He is all embracing.

‘And beside me there is no God.' There is thus no room for other deities, for where could they fit into His all-encompassing being? And which of them could have done what He has done?