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The "Behold, I Am Doing a New Thing" Verses
The Lord Doth a New Thing: Understanding Isaiah 43:19
The words of the prophet Isaiah, recorded in Isaiah 43:19, resonate with profound hope and divine promise: "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." This powerful declaration serves as a cornerstone for understanding God's continuous, redemptive work throughout history and in the lives of His people. It speaks to His sovereign power to transform impossible situations, to bring forth life where there is barrenness, and to forge paths where none existed. To truly grasp the depth of this verse, we must delve into its original context, its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, and its enduring relevance for believers today.
The Prophetic Context in Isaiah 43
The book of Isaiah, particularly chapters 40-55, is often referred to as the "Book of Comfort" or "Second Isaiah." It addresses the nation of Israel during a period of immense distress—the Babylonian captivity. God's people were exiled, their temple destroyed, and their hope seemingly extinguished. In this dire situation, the Lord speaks through Isaiah, not with condemnation, but with words of assurance and future restoration.
Just before declaring, "Behold, I will do a new thing," the Lord admonishes Israel to remember His past faithfulness, yet also to look forward:
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
This does not mean God wanted Israel to forget His mighty acts, such as the Exodus and the parting of the Red Sea. Rather, He was preparing them for a deliverance that, while equally miraculous, would be distinct and perhaps even greater in its scope and spiritual implications. The "former things" were glorious, but God was about to surpass them with a new display of His power and grace. The promise of a "way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert" directly contrasts the harsh realities of their exile and points to a journey of return and restoration, made possible only by divine intervention.
God's "New Thing" for Israel: Return and Renewal
In its immediate historical context, the "new thing" God promised was the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon. This was a miraculous event, facilitated by King Cyrus of Persia, who allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. While the Exodus was a deliverance from slavery to nationhood, the return from Babylon was a restoration from dispersion and spiritual desolation back to their land and covenant relationship with God. It was a demonstration of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, even when His people had grievously sinned.
Beyond the physical return, this "new thing" also hinted at a deeper spiritual renewal. The wilderness journey back to Jerusalem would be supplied by God, much like the first Exodus. The rivers in the desert symbolize spiritual refreshment and a renewed covenant relationship. This theme of a new covenant is more explicitly developed by Jeremiah:
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
This prophecy in Jeremiah 31, spoken decades before the return from Babylon, sets the stage for the ultimate "new thing" God would do.
The Ultimate "New Thing" in Christ: The New Covenant and New Creation
While the return from Babylon was a significant "new thing," the truest and most profound fulfillment of God's promise to do a "new thing" is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah is inaugurated through Jesus' blood.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
The book of Hebrews further elaborates on the superiority of this new covenant:
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
And concerning its newness:
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Through Christ, God has not merely returned His people to a physical land, but has opened a way for spiritual restoration and reconciliation with Himself. This "new thing" encompasses several transformative realities:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
This grand culmination signifies God's complete and final renewal of all things, where sin and its effects are eradicated.
Application for Believers Today
The promise of God doing a "new thing" is not confined to ancient Israel or the first century; it remains a dynamic truth for believers today. God is still active, still transforming, and still making ways in our personal and collective wildernesses.
- Embrace Personal Transformation: Just as Israel was called to forget the former things and look to a new deliverance, we are called to lay aside our old ways and embrace the new life in Christ. Paul urges us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4:23) and to put on the new man (Ephesians 4:24). This involves a continuous process of sanctification, where God refines us and makes us more like Him.
- Expect God's Intervention in Difficulties: When facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, remember that God specializes in making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. He can provide solutions, resources, and strength where human logic sees only impossibilities. This requires faith and patient waiting upon Him.
- Look Forward, Not Backward: While we learn from the past, we are not to be bound by it. As Paul writes, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). God's new work often requires us to release old mindsets, past failures, or even past successes that might hinder our progress.
- Participate in God's Ongoing Work: God uses His people as instruments in His new things. As we yield to Him, He works through us to bring about renewal in our families, churches, communities, and the world. This can involve new ministries, new approaches to evangelism, or new ways of living out our faith in a changing world.
Discerning the "New": A Word of Caution
While God is always doing new things, it is crucial to exercise discernment. Not every "new" idea or trend is from God. The "new thing" God does will always be consistent with His unchanging character and His revealed Word. It will never contradict Scripture, promote unrighteousness, or diminish the glory of Christ. We are exhorted to:
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Like the Bereans of old, we must diligently search the Scriptures to confirm that what we hear and experience aligns with divine truth (Acts 17:11).
Conclusion
The declaration, "Behold, I will do a new thing," is a timeless testament to the living, active, and redemptive nature of our God. From delivering Israel from Babylonian captivity to inaugurating the New Covenant through Christ's atoning work, and ultimately to creating new heavens and a new earth, God consistently demonstrates His power to bring forth life, hope, and transformation. As believers, we are called to recognize His hand at work, embrace the spiritual newness He offers, and anticipate with faith the greater things He is yet to accomplish, both in our individual lives and in the world.
This article was generated by AI to serve as a helpful starting point for study. The Scriptures are always the ultimate guide. Explore them directly on our Study page.