[18] remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. [19] behold, i am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? i will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. [20] the wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for i give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, [21] the people whom i formed for myself that they might declare my praise. [isaiah 43:18–21] 

 

doting on the past is a tool of the devil. he longs for us to be caught up in our past and to expect what has already come. God does not do the same miracle over and over. no, his mercies are new each day. in expecting the old to happen again, we are limiting what God can do.

“behold i am doing a new thing” – a fresh thing, a never done before thing is what God has in store. as we read in the old testament, the new thing they looked forward to was Jesus. we now get to look forward to the work of the Holy Spirit in us because of what Jesus has done.

“now it springs forth” – though the wording here in our modern terms seems to equate to a quick process the hebrew word here actually equates to the growth of a plant or hair. have you ever had to wait for your hair to grow out? it is a process, not an immediate outcome.

then God asks “do you not perceive it?” open your eyes, behold, the new is come. he will “make a way in the wilderness,” and he will “give water in the wilderness,” and he will “give drink to his chosen people.” God is our provider, he has provided a savior, our atonement, our covering. the israelites of isaiah’s time were exiled, far from home and in captivity. here God is saying to them like he says to us “i will make a path.”

why? so that we can praise him. we were made by the Creator of the world for the Creator of the world. we were made for his glory.

 

Lord, show me today why i was formed. Lord i want to know more of who you are. bring remembrance of who you are, bring remembrance of your promises.

i’m sorry i hold onto the past with bitterness and pride, show me how you are making me new. like the path to the promise land you have my steps laid before me. oh Lord, please grow my trust in your words in your promises.

amen!

 

i pray this pray over you today that you may sit in your identity in Christ and know you are made new and know that you are cared for by the one who created you.

 

~ holly russell