Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 KJV
The Inspiration:
Still speaking about the new, God speaks here through the prophet Isaiah to his people Israel. Here was a nation chosen by God as His own special people, children of the promise made to Abraham the father of faith, and a nation which had been the recipient of mighty and wonderful miracles. They had seen their numbers increase in Egypt, even though they were oppressed and treated badly, and when they would have to leave Egypt, they did so with an abundance of gold and jewellery. Their journey to the promised land was also miraculous, as things that had never happened before did so - a whole sea was parted in two for Israel to walk through, whilst the same sea flowed back and covered the pursuing Egyptians. no nation at the time could resist the people of Israel because they had the backing of a mighty power.
The Contention:
The entire journey of Israel, which lasted forty years due to Israel's sin, was full of miracles, with the nation enjoying an unending supply of food and water, as well as victory over skilled warriors, all through those years. Yet, God speaks here, telling his people Israel that, no matter how wonderful or miraculous the experiences they had seen in the past were, He was going to do a new thing. The greatest enemy of the new is the old; the greatest enemy of the new is routine. When God does mighty things for me constantly, if I am not careful, I will come to expect them, and then they become the expected and the usual. That is when a sense of entitlement comes in; when I think that there must be something in me that helps me earn the grace and blessings that God gives. I just must conscientiously guard my heart against the dangers of routine.
The Conclusion;
God asks me today to forget all the things that may have happened, whether good or bad, and simply focus on Him. I must be grateful for the amazing things He has done, but my heart must be in the right place to look ahead to Him at all times, so that I can recognize His leading and know when to move, and where He is leading, and the mighty things that He wants to do. He says he will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Places that would not naturally respond to me would begin to so so, simply because God is at work. Places, people, policies and procedures that do not naturally respond in a particular way will simply begin to do so, simply because God is at work. Whatever it is that lies ahead of me, I simply look to God. He alone knows the past, present and future. God's time of favour is here.
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