In anticipation of all that God will do and a vision for 2022, a passage from Isaiah 43 came to mind during prayer for our church.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.
16 This is what the Lord says — he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” (Isaiah 43:15–21)
This passage speaks to us about:
Who God is
How God acted in the Past
What God is doing Now
Who God is
Referring to verses 15-17:
God makes some exclusive claims:
“I am the Lord” - reminding His people about who is ultimately in control, not only of the present situation but also of their future.
“I am your Creator” - the One who made you from the dust, and breathed life into your body and the One who will recall that life and return your body to the dust.
“I am your true King.”
The gods of the ancient world were frequently referred to as kings, and the land of Israel was filled with them. Therefore Isaiah asked the nation of Israel time and time again, “Who is your king? Whom do you serve?”
In Isaiah 6 the prophet had to answer the same question for himself. He had served King Uzziah and deeply respected him but only after the king died, did he see the Lord for who He is, high and lifted up. It was then that he surrendered his life to God.
“Sometimes God has to remove things from our lives, even good things, that we did not realize were “kings” in our lives so we can see the one, only true King for who He is. ”
At times we want to be the final decision maker and authority in our own lives and sometimes in the lives of others. Even though we know that our Father God is King, we often become impatient with God’s plan and His timing thinking “we can do just fine without Him”. Instead of waiting to hear from God, we then quickly make our own way.
When we are hasty with our decisions, we tend to mess things up. Then we realize that we don’t have the power or the authority to change the world or the people around us let alone ourselves. It’s only through surrender and making God the ruler over our lives that we understand that it is only God, …
who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters.
How God acted in the Past
Referring to verse 18:
What does God mean when He is basically saying, “Don’t think about the past”? Is He telling His people to forget that He delivered them and consistently provided for their every need?
Absolutely not! Instead He tells them to forget how or the way He delivered them and to simply recall the power, the love, and the faithfulness that the Lord demonstrated throughout all those events in the past.
“Don’t make your past an Idol”
The Israelites worshiped their traditions and the mighty things God had done for their ancestors which resulted in spiritual idolatry. They were expecting God to do the same miraculous acts He did back in Egypt when God made a way by sending ten plagues against Egypt and then by wiping out their armies in the Red Sea as they came after the Israelites.
When He made the way for His people, it was supernatural, it brought Him glory, and it gave His people hope and life. They realized His ways are far higher than theirs, and His timing is perfect. God always acts according to His character and nature, but He doesn’t ever do things the same way.
We can’t live in the past because if we do, we will not perceive what God wants to do now.
God doesn’t do things the same way for every person and in every situation. God wants us to experience his power, love and faithfulness in a new way, in a way we would have never expected - a new thing!
What God is doing Now
Referring to verses 19:
All of us have and will face seemingly impossible situations from which we cannot find a way forward. Our faith will be brought to the breaking point causing us to wonder, “Is this situation hopeless? Is there a way forward or a way out?”
When God is doing a new thing it requires us to die to ourselves, our ways, and to grow up in our faith. It means learning to walk with God right now.
God wants us to learn something new from Him and about Him today, right now. Are we open for that? If we put our trust in Him, He will accomplish His purpose in His way and in His timing.
God is saying the same thing to this broken and fallen world, to people who are lost, separated from Him and powerless to change their current state. It is impossible for people to save themselves and be reconciled to God, but God makes a way for people to come to Him through a very unexpected, unimaginable, and supernatural way - through the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
Referring to verses 20-21:
God is the One who makes a way if you are willing to see it. Take steps of faith to trust Him for it and grow in it. God wants to do something new in each person’s life. He is challenging you to grow in areas of your life where His light has never shone before. God wants to use your life in ways you would never have dreamed of.
Forgetting all my doubtings, which dimmed faith’s vision bright,
Forgetting all the earth clouds, the darkness, gloom and night,
Remembering God’s bright sunshine, and radiance of His face,
Remembering His long patience, I praise my God for Grace.
Forgetting all unkindness, which friend and foes have shown,
Forgetting and forgiving the wrongs that I have shown
Remembering God provided, unsought, each faithful friend
Remembering Love’s devotion, I’ll praise Him till the end.
Forgetting all my fretting’s, when disappointments came.
Forgetting all the complaining, which filled my soul with shame.
Remembering God was ever true to His Holy Word,
Remembering He was faithful, I praise my sovereign Lord.