Isaiah 43:18-21
“New Thing” (43:19)
Let us read this verse together:
(Putting your name)
Andrew,
“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”.
Now tell your neighbor
“Behold, God will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? God will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.
Introduction:
The book of Isaiah is the king of Prophecies. It’s the profound literature in the Bible. This book has three sections such as 1-39, 40-55, and 56-66. First, it describes the events leading to the Babylonian captivity, secondly about redemption and restoration of Israel, thirdly about the messianic kingdom. The second part of the book of Isaiah is known as a book of comfort.
Prophet Isaiah has seemed to have belonged to a royal family. He was a court preacher or government prophet. Like what we have today known as assembly poet, government pleader. He was married and had two sons, a very blessed man of his times.
The great theme of ‘Salvation by faith’ was consumed by him. But he died as a martyr in the hands of King Manasseh (according to Mishna Tradition). Manasseh's son was born to Hezekiah during his extended time of life (2 Kings 21:1-2).
The Passage Isaiah 43:14-21 talks about the redemption of the Jews in turn mean the redemption of all (Mathew Henry).
1. Behold, I will do a new thing
‘Behold’ this word is very often used to make something exciting, fascinating and attractive. It’s a note of admiration. This word is used 1298 times in the entire Bible. e.g.,
The word new thing is used by Isaiah for four times (Isaiah 42:9, 43:19, 48:6, and 65:17).
‘New thing’ refers to things which you never heard and planned. It’s unprecedented; unparallel, simply to say it would be first of its kind.
‘New thing’ refers to such things that would have never been done in history (Wesley). ‘New thing’ is a new work of God. All your present glories will disappear; all your stars will disappear. When the Sun comes all the stars disappear (Calvin). When the new work of God starts in you all the old glories will disappear.
‘New thing’ shall surpass all formerly done things (Barnes). Such work was never done in the world (Mathew Poole).
Likewise, when a new thing comes into your life all old things will disappear, they will lose their prominence, and they will lose their pride, they will lose their glory and radiance. Old will be gone. You can’t live in your past glories forever.
New thing means new blessings (Isaiah 44:3). The blessings which you will enjoy, which you will experience, which you will own will be new to you and to others, beyond imaginations, beyond expectations. Call unto me and I will answer thee and show you great and mighty things which you have known not (Jeremiah 33:3).
God’s words are fresh every morning, new compassions, new mercy, new grace, new life, and new opportunities (Lamentations 3:21). Even the cells of our body rejuvenate every day.
Give room for God to work new thing in your life. Don’t give your plans, your programs to be approved by God rather give a plain sheet, a blank page of your life for him to write his plans, his purposes, and his destiny for you.
Simple complete surrender to God will bring greater changes in the future course of your life. He will change your life. Your existence becomes more meaningful, purposeful and useful to you and to others Because the surrender leads you to enjoy the free Pardon, free justification and free sanctification and finally the eternal life.
He will change your disgraceful things; he will change your dishonours and he will change your disappointments. He changes your thinking about yourself, about your potentials, about your skills and talents. Commitment can bring greater changes in life.
Therefore ‘Fear not’ (Isaiah 43:1, 5, 44:2 8) about the New Year. Your future things would be better than the past events and past things. Your prayers, penitence and fasting will certainly bring changes in your life.
The unseen perils and the unknown paths either will be removed from your way or God would be your present helper to pass through those things. This will transcend all the past miracles of your life.
I am with thee forever and ever (Isaiah 43:5). When I am with you, you can pass through the waters, rivers, oceans and when I am with you, you can walk through the fire, furnace and boilers (Isaiah 43:2).
We are failed to see changes in our life because we resist the new work of God, we don’t want to come out of comfort zones. Open your eyes and see the changes which are spring forth.
2. It shall spring forth
God promises here that He is making you grow like a new plant.
The man was known as a tree (Matthew 15:13), and a branch (Zechariah 3:8, 6:12) in the Bible.
God created human beings’ perfect image of God. But they became crooked, subtle, deceivers and useless.
You are a branch of a wild tree, you are the crooked branch, you are a branch with thorns, you are bitter branch despite this the Father had chosen you, pruned you, and merged you with the true vine branch known as Jesus(Isaiah 11:1 & John 11:2,5).
Spring forth means the new beginning. Unseen God’s activity, unseen God’s power in action and silent and salient features of God is at work.
God promised that he shall bring forth the blessings in the desert (Heb. Word: Jeshimon- utterly barren and arid region- Psalm 68:7, 78:40, Deuteronomy 32:10) whereas in the wilderness (Midbar) the flocks find scanty sustenance (Numbers 21:20, 1 Samuel 26:1). He talks about the howling wilderness.
New ways in the wilderness and rivers in the desert means new openings in life, new possibility, new potential, new era, and new time frame. What you can’t imagine will happen to you.
He will revive when we are tired, weary in the spiritual wilderness and he gives us the direction to continue on with faith, hope and love. His presence changes the dryness of time and life.
Your thoughts, your plans are smaller. God’s ways, God’s plan, God’s thought about you, about your children, about your dear one, near one are greater, superior, vibrant, valiant(noble) and vociferous(enthusiastic).
He will send his word like that of rain. It shall bring forth and bud. It shall accomplish my purpose (Isaiah 55:8-12).
God is the ultimate artist to design your life beautifully. Don’t you know that? That’s the next sentence Prophet uses.
3. Shall ye not know it?
Don’t you know that ‘I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert’? A “way” time and again stand for the true religion (Acts 9:2; Acts 18:26). “Rivers” express the influences of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).
I will give you direction and provision when you are confused, perplexed and fearful. These are the experience of the people of Israel in the past, some of having heard about it and had enjoyed meditating upon it. Some of them had cherished in telling these stories to their children.
God created water streams during the days of the judges, in the example the En-hak’ko-re (Judges15:18-19). Even before that God was El-Roi to Hagar and Ismail. He did it during the days of Ahab and days of kings.
Don‘t you know that ‘you are my chosen’, I have formed you, redeemed you, called you by your name’ (Isaiah 43:1), and you are called by my name (Isaiah 43:7).
Don‘t you know that ‘you are precious to me; you are honourable to me’ (Isaiah 43:4). Don‘t you know that You are no more a pagan, foreigner, slave, rejected and dejected person but you are mine (Isaiah 43:1)
Don‘t you know that ‘I have chosen you so that you may know me, you may believe me, and you may understand me’ (Isaiah 43:10).
Don‘t you know that ‘you are created and chosen for my glory and my praise’? You will show forth to the people that glory to your life (Isaiah 43:21).
Don‘t you know that ‘Ye are my witnesses’? The knowing of God, tasting the sweetness of God, having an intimate relationship with God, closely walking and talking with God leads you to witness for Him (Isaiah 43:10). Don‘t you know that ‘you are the witnesses of God that YHWH is the only God (Isaiah 44:8)? How often we live with ignorance of it or live with unbelief.
We are struggling to witness together because of us in fights: we are having very strong division as my group and that group. Or simply we can understand as the US and THEY.
“US” means only our group matters, only we are worthy, good, right, and true and all others are unworthy, evil, wrong and false. They are wholly insignificant; they are worst and useless. Let’s accept and put together the Unity show. Then we can become witnesses. Then we can see a new thing in AMC, CRC and MCI.
Let’s begin the year by pronouncing to us:
Behold, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Amen Amen Amen.
(for Contact: revandrew@rediffmail.com 91 9443586008 India
