Are we anticipating the “something new” that’s coming?
We love this verse because it gives us the hope that we need to press forward and embrace what’s coming.
I took a look at the entire chapter to understand what the prophet Isaiah was indicating. He begins the chapter by saying, “But now…Listen to the Lord who created you.” Isaiah 43: 1
So, I asked, “What was spoken before he says, “But now...Listen…?” I turned to the previous chapter, Isaiah 42, and discovered that he was ending the chapter speaking about Israel’s failure to listen and see. He spills out all their mistakes, reminding us that they did not learn their lessons. Doom and gloom awaited them because they didn’t learn or listen.
What a rebellious people they are! Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Do we listen as we should? Do we learn our lessons and turn our lives around immediately? The answer would be no!
Isaiah asked this one important question when he was pointing out their disobedience; he says, “Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?” Isaiah 42: 23
That’s why he opens the next chapter, Isaiah 43, saying, “But now…listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43: 1
Did you catch that? God is telling them not to be afraid, for He has redeemed them and has called them by name; they are His.
He is their personal God, their Savior.
So, I say, “So it is with Israel So, it is with us!”
Reading on, we see that as God prepares them for the new thing, He reassures them how He will love and protect them. He promises:
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43: 2-3
Take note that He doesn’t remove them from the difficulties. He reassures them He will be with them through it.
Why? So they can learn to overcome. Then He said, “I am your Savior.”
Once again, I say, So, it is with us!
He continues to tell them how He has promised victory in their life.
Once again, I say, So, it is with us!
Read the chapter for yourself. You’ll find He reminds them how He opened the Red Sea and destroyed their enemies as they were pursuing them through the waters.
Then He says this,
“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” Isaiah 43: 18-19a
His promise is reiterated again, saying, “I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43: 19b
God is promising He will do it again.
We have to ask this question to help us see it:
Is He not our Waymaker, our Promise Keeper, our Light in the darkness?
Final answer: God is who He says He is; and we are who He says we are:
“You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord.
“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.
No one can undo what I have done.” Isaiah 43: 12-13
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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