“Forget the former things;
Isaiah 43:18-19
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland."
Not a Geyser, a Spring
Isaiah is one of God's prophets from back in the Old Testament. This means that he was the mouthpiece of God before we had our own relationship with God through Jesus. A prophet's job was to listen for the Word of God and then share it with the people, and that's what Isaiah is doing here.
He hears from the Lord that, even though the people Israel are in exile, also known as being in a foreign land, they should forget the former things, to not dwell on the past. Things have happened. They've gotten to where they are because of reasons that they have caused. Dwelling on the past doesn't help them, because if one dwells on the past, they can't see the new thing that God is doing in them or for them. Here it's really hard to see, when you're in a foreign land, what future God actually has for you, but it's happening. It springs up, the Scripture says. It's not something that is incredibly noticeable. It's not a geyser spouting off, but rather it's a subtle change. That's why the Lord asks through Isaiah, "Do you not perceive it?" It's something that you may not notice right away, but with a little bit of perception, with a little bit of noticing, it's something that can be seen and be made known.
It gets a little bit specific. The Lord says through Isaiah that he is making a way in the wilderness. That's the new thing. That's the thing that God is doing in his people Israel: making a way in the wilderness and making their wasteland bountiful by placing streams and productive things in their wasteland.
Stop Rehearsing What's Forgiven
What does this look like practically? Well, we can apply what the Lord is saying through Isaiah here: to not dwell on the past, to not think about your previous mistakes, because those mistakes have been forgiven through the grace of Jesus. It's not something worth dwelling on, because if you continue to dwell on those things, it's hard to see the new life that God has for you through Christ Jesus.
Yes, it's difficult to just forget those things, because they do form your story and they're worth reflecting on. Dwelling on them, revisiting them, and acting like you're not forgiven from them can prevent you from living the life that God has for you. God is doing a new thing in you. He's doing a new thing through you, and it may be subtle. It's not some grand gesture or miraculous healing. It's subtle. It requires perception. It requires spending time with Jesus to understand what he's doing in you and what he's doing through you.
Whether you're feeling down, dejected, or depressed, God has a plan for you even when you feel like you're in a wilderness, because even in that wilderness there are streams. Even in that wasteland there are rivers, and around those rivers and streams is life—an abundant life, a productive life, and a life worth living.
Prayer
Jesus, help us to forget the things from the past. Help us to not dwell on those things but rather to see the new things that you're doing in our lives. Help us to perceive that new life, that new spring that is coming up in our wilderness and in our wastelands. We trust you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.