43:18 "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 43:19 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.
I have to confess I am an old testament fanatic. I love the meat and what I find of God there. This verse today rips at my heart. How many times can we not forget our past. How many times do we/I hang on to the things of old just by our remembrance of them and not see the new things that God is doing. How many times when God is moving do we trample on something new because we can not perceive it. I am a planner I love to have everything planned out...
I was going to get married at around 20 start having children at 25 have 2 girls and 2 boys. Live in a moderate home, stay at home with my children and do lots of volunteer work. I wanted to just be a full time mommy and wife more importantly. I wanted a deep love of a husband. One day I hoped to go to the mission field and at some point use my nursing degree. I wanted a quiet life. I wanted a life of peace.
My life turned out nothing like I thought it would. I have had many life trials and tribulations. My daddy use to say I have lived by the time I was 40 what most people lived through in either a war torn country wrought with tragedy or in 3 lifetimes. I had to learn to become a warrior at a very young age....I won't bore you with the details but my daddy was truly right. I have not heard many stories that top mine. Most listen with disbelief or an open mouth or just really want to walk away. If some had not lived through it with me they wouldn't believe it all. My mother doesn't want to talk of it, it is just too painful, my siblings won't. All I can say is my life is a story of true redemption. I know what it is like to have God come through. I know what it is like to have been failed by those you love and see God do a new thing. I watch in disbelief often. I have seen him get me out of crunches when I thought there was absolutely no way. He has blessed me abundtly not out of my own doing that I can promise you. People who look at my life and what I have think WOW that girl has it goin' on....not true at all....all given by Him...cause a long time ago I learned He does it not me...what I have HE gave including my children...
How many times do you feel like God made a way in the wilderness for you or a river in the desert? I mean think about that scenario....Your lost in either place one usually has animals that can devour you, danger on every side...making a way means you get to escape all that...rivers in the desert mean living water when your so dry you could literally die. Have you ever been in either place? Some of us maybe we have literally but I know all of us spiritually have. Where are you now? What is trying to devour you? What do you need to drink in because your so dry?
For me and for so many of us it is the PAST we can not let go of...scripture right here gives us this clue. We think OH here we go again....I"M NOT WALKING DOWN this SAME road again...Nope not me...but you have to ask yourself...IS IT? Is it the same players? Are you the same? It may all look familiar but IS IT...or is it a NEW THING GOD is doing? God tells us in Isaiah not to even REMEMBER the former things! WHY NOT? Because HE is doing a NEW thing and he can make a way where there was not a way before....can you not perceive it...? Can you not believe HIM? I learned a long time ago God takes me round and round the bend until I get it right, He does this out of love for us...He is that faithful to work out that thing in us so Satan no longer has that foothold
God goes on and reminds us of who He is in Isaiah chapter 44
44:1 "But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! 44:2Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshu'run whom I have chosen. 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring. 44:4 They shall spring up like grass amid waters, like willows by flowing streams. 44:5This one will say, 'I am the LORD's,' another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and surname himself by the name of Israel." 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 44:7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it, let him declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. 44:8 Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any."
Our descendants and offspring are even promised to be marked by God...to love Him so much they will mark themselves and rename themselves....isn't that awesome...and then he tells us not to even fear! Don't you love Gods promises to us! There is no other Rock I know, NOT ANY!
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