30^th August

“But forget all that – it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland..”

Isaiah 43:18-19

As Isaiah continues to prophecy God’s words to the people held in captivity by the Babylonians, he takes a turn in his message, reminding them of God’s faithfulness and His mighty hand to deliver. He encourages them, that although they are feeling alone and abandoned, God had not forgotten about them. Although their sins are the reason for their wasteland wandering and captivity, He will forgive and restore His beloved people.

God, through Isaiah’s words reminds them in Chapter 43 of the time when He set them free from the hand of slavery in Egypt. He reminds them how He “opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea” after Pharaoh had let them go from captivity. Not only did He make a way for them to cross, but snuffed out the threat of the following Egyptian army. He reminds them that He is their Saviour.

But, when we reach verse 18, there is a dramatic twist in the narrative…. God says to His people, ‘BUT FORGET ALL THAT…IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. FOR I AM ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING NEW….!!’ It’s like God was saying, ‘yes, you have experienced My hand of salvation from above, but now, I will send you a Saviour and Messiah, who will physically show you My salvation, and lead you into eternal freedom from sin’s bondage.

Friends, that salvation was Jesus Christ. The King of Kings. God did do something new and greater, because not only did He save the Israelites but He came to save all people, that includes us. He became humanities salvation. God made a way, in the wastelands of our lives, to shine His glory and set us free. He became our light and salvation. He freed us from sin’s prison. He has taken us by our hands and led us to freedom. Praise His Name forever.