For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead.
Egypt for thy ransom--Either Egypt or Israel must perish; God chose that Egypt, though so much more mighty, should be destroyed, in order that His people might be delivered; thus Egypt stood, instead of Israel, as a kind of "ransom." The Hebrew, kopher, means properly "that with which anything is overlaid," as the pitch with which the ark was overlaid; hence that which covers over sins, an atonement.
After reproving Jacob's stubborn disobedience, God's goodness blazes forth all the brighter: He continues His love and care for His people. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; mercy rejoices against judgment, and the sun breaks from behind dark clouds to shine the brighter.
AI summary
Commenting on Isaiah 43:1-7
3. For I am Jehovah thy God. He confirms the preceding statement by the experience of the past; for the Lord had formerly assisted his people in such a manner that it was reasonable and proper that believers should safely rely on his grace.