“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)
We thank God for this New Year. Since it is January, our verse of the Month will be longer than usual. We are blessed to know that God plans to do a new thing, and we pray that God will do a new thing in each of our lives this year.
Because of their disobedience, the Israelites faced imminent captivity, as the context of Isaiah 43 makes it clear. They had suffered throughout their history as a result of their constant rejection of God. The same thing applies to most of our behaviour in the past year. This verse, however, represents God’s assurance of restoration and redemption. He exhorts His people to “forget the former things,” implying that their understanding of what He is doing now shouldn’t be hampered by prior failures or triumphs. 2024 will inevitably serve as the context of 2025.
The statement “I am doing a new thing” highlights the fact that God is unconstrained by human constraints or prior deeds. Even in seemingly insurmountable circumstances, such as deserts and wildernesses, He calls on believers to acknowledge and seize the fresh possibilities He provides.
The exhortation to “see” emphasises how crucial awareness and faith are. It pushes people to see beyond their immediate situation and to become more aware of God’s continuous action in their lives.
God’s provision and concern are exemplified by the picture of creating a path in the wilderness and supplying rivers in the desert. It gives believers hope that God can provide life and nourishment even in adversity.
To sum up, Isaiah 43:19 exhorts believers to have faith in God’s capacity to create fresh starts, to stay optimistic, and to pay close attention to His life-changing activity.
