Isaiah 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" (Isaiah 43:19 RSV).

Comment:

Only the first 39 chapters of the Book of Isaiah can be directly connected to the time in which that prophet lived, just prior to the fall of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon. The remaining chapters refer to events a generation later, when Cyrus of Persia has conquered Babylon and allowed the Israelites to return to their own land. The anonymous author (or authors) have two purposes: to encourage the reluctant Hebrews to leave Babylon and return to rebuild the ruined city of Jerusalem and reestablish their kingdom, and to 'purify' their religious practices so they are once again worshipping only their own God. Apparently their time in exile had allowed many of them to adopt others of the many different beliefs and practices they found in Babylon.

In this passage the focus is on encouraging the Hebrews to return to their own land. They had been living in Babylon for more than a generation; most of them had never even seen Jerusalem. They came as captives, but they were treated well. The voice of the prophet is passionate and excited about what the Lord will deliver them once they set out. Even the journey itself will be easy; the Lord will make the path and provide the water, even in the desert. And once they are back in what was still their Promised Land, they will receive and achieve more than they could even imagine. Don't expect things to be as they were, the Lord warns through the prophet; "I am doing a new thing." To recognize the achievement of that promise, we have only to go to the Revelation to John, 21:5:  "And he who sat upon the throne said 'Behold, I make all things new.'"

We often need to be urged forward on the path to our spiritual purpose. It's easy to become complacent, comfortable where we are, and unsure about why we should risk our comfort by moving forward into the unknown. But our spiritual journey, by its very purpose, can never cause us to lose anything; we are simply to see everything 'new,' from the perspective of our spiritual vision.

Blessings,

Rev. Ed