"Behold, I am doing a new thing."

Isaiah 43:16,17-  Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:


God often calls us to remember.  He reminds us that we need not fear even in the most dire situations, because He has been faithful to us and to His promises countless times before.  When God tells me to trust Him and obey even when, for all practical purposes, things aren't going to work, I usually respond with something like, "But God, are you sure you added things up correctly?  Did you remember take __ into account?  You do realize that there is no way this will actually work, right?"  In His tender mercy He often brings to mind the countless impossible things that He has brought about in my life.  And graciously reminds me and my feeble faith that I have reason to trust His faithfulness now- He has "proven Himself" over and over and over again in my life.


The more I read about the story of Israel, the less judgmental I am towards them.  God tells them to do some really ridiculous things.  But when they grumble and remind Him how ridiculous His ideas are, He is usually incredibly patient, offering signs and recalling past faithfulness and rewards.  This is what verses 16 and 17 are about...


Isaiah 43:18,19a- "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" 


This caught me a bit by surprise.  The previous two verses He remembers with them.  And then He says not to remember??  Here is what I think the key word is, though: "things."  God doesn't ask us to remember the methods and specific ways He has done things in the past; He asks to remember Him.  Our confidence isn't based in the details and strategies- it's based in God.  He is an infinitely creative God, He is not bound to how He has done things in the past.  He tells us to remember that He has been faithful, not necessarily how He has been faithful.


A professor and mentor of mine in college taught me that if we focus on the gifts of the Giver, rather than the Giver of the gifts, we are idolaters.  I think this is similar.  If we focus on the things God has done, rather than the God who has done things, we are dumb.  Just kidding.  Kinda.  But we miss what God is doing now, because we are looking for Him to replicate what He has done before.  


Isaiah 43:19b-21- "I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 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, the people whom I formed for Myself that they might declare My praise."  


God will be faithful to His people.  He will make a way; He will provide; He will protect; He will bless.  It probably won't look like it did last time, but He's going to do it.  Why?  Because it will satisfy His people that they might worship Him.




God has really challenged me with these verses (and actually all of Isaiah 40-44) the last few weeks.  I have been looking for His leading and provision based on the ways He has done so in the past.  And I was missing the new things He was doing.  It makes me think of the Jews not recognizing Jesus because they were looking for an earthly king.  It has been a powerful reminder to remember Him; trust Him; look for Him; obediently walk in faith in Him.