Isaiah 43:4
Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
Scripture has many layers of meaning. The literal sense of today’s verse speaks of the enormous love God has for Israel as his chosen people and of the fact that all of world history was begin providentially guided to lead to the glory of Israel. However, the glory of Israel was not political glory or military conquest. It was a small baby who was to grow up and be revealed as a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of his people, Israel. All of human history, all the peoples of the world, are aimed toward him, their history leads up to him, and their hope, whether they knew it or not, was and is ultimately in him. And in exchange for their lives, he gave his. For each of us is precious to him who is most precious of all.