He is Doing a New Thing
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Isaiah 43:16-27
16. Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 17. who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 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. 22. "Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! 23. You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. 24. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins, you have wearied me with your iniquities. 25. "I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. 26. Put me in remembrance, let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right. 27. Your first father sinned, and your mediators transgressed against me.
It’s hard to imagine God getting tired, weary, spent. But if you think about the long history of man, and our propensity for defiance and our inclination to sin, it must just be absolutely exhausting for Him! I know . . . he made the earth and the sky and everything on it and under it . . . I know, it’s almost sacrilegious to say such things about God. But really . . . even God must feel absolutely exasperated with man sometimes!
He points out through Isaiah that he saved His chosen ones from slavery, gave them a chance to have a land He set aside just for them. A Holy Land, for the Holy People. But they just didn’t get it! They complained and whined and turned away from God because they perceived that it was just too hard to be the Chosen Ones! God required their hearts and minds and souls. They would have preferred his asking for burnt offerings and fasting. They could manage that, it was for a set time, and then life could resume as before. And we haven’t really changed that much in 2000 years, have we?
Even the animals honor God, even the “dumb” beasts pay homage to Him. But man, created in God’s image and likeness seek after God’s greatness for themselves. We want to make our own rules and establish our own criteria for living. We weary God with our rebellion and our sin. We offer half-hearted sacrifice. We praise him with hollow words and shallow thoughts. We keep asking for forgiveness . . . and then we keep on sinning.
God is telling us to forget the past! Not to forget our sin and his unending patience and mercy, but to forget our former way of living and of worshipping. He declares for the Israelites that Christ is coming. Prepare your minds and hearts to be not only astounded, but healed and enlightened! He doesn’t want us to keep offering less than our all. He doesn’t desire empty words and thoughtless deeds. He wants us to look at the cross! Think about how Christ became our sin so that we no longer have to live under the shadow of sin. Realize God’s unfathomable mercy through the grace He awards us.
Forget the way you used to live. Live like you’re saved. Change your ways. Change your thoughts. Change your life. God is waiting. Remember the past as a reminder of God’s patience and love and mercy. But look to the future with longing and rejoicing. Christ is risen. Even the things of old are new through His resurrection! And never forget that we belong to God.
I hope you spend today longing for eternity, remembering God’s mercy and rejoicing in His grace.
Mary
