“Backed by his credentials”

Meditation – Sunday, April 6, 2025

Isaiah 43: 14-21 (Forward, p. 67) CEV p. 737

Right now, much of our world is wracked by political strife and dissension, and riven through it all are myriads of promises, promises upon promises. Amid this, it quite right and proper to ask questions, questions about past performance, present credentials. In other words, what evidence can you produce that will convince us that you are able to carry out those promises?

Here the performance of God Almighty is stellar, and breath-taking, in how it illustrates His ability. Our account mentions but two things, both to do with God’s deliverance of Israel from its slavery in Egypt. Firstly, there was the incident at the Red (Reed) Sea: “I am the one who cut a path through the mighty ocean” (verse 16). And secondly, there is a mention of the defeat of Pharaoh’s army, “I sent an army to chase you with chariots and horses, but now they lie dead, unable to move. They are like an oil lamp with the flame snuffed out” (verse 17).

But then God says, “You ain’t seen nothing yet. Forget the past. I have something new up my sleeve!” And here He mentions what He will one day do in the desert regions of the Holy Land, the Negev in particular. And, indeed, He has done just that, even in just the last sixty plus years.

Here I would suggest that these words, even if originally written for the benefit of ancient Israel, also apply to us, for did not Jesus promise much by way of ‘something new’. I think that we too can expect a ‘new thing’, such that it will literally boggle our imaginations. Surely that is what Jesus, and the entire body of the New Testament, have promised. So, let us stand firm and loyal, and continue unabated and unwavering, in our faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Forward notes: “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (verses 18-19a).

“The poetry of the book of Isaiah is riveting, and the message is challenging and comforting on this Fifth Sunday in Lent. We have walked the Lenten journey for five weeks, and time is drawing nigh for the holiest of all weeks in our Christian calendar. What former things do we need to leave behind? And what new things must we consider? What will spring forth? Are we ready to make the final walk with Jesus into Jerusalem?

“With stories like those we are reading in the Gospel of John—Jesus raising Lazarus and admonishing Judas—it is clear that Jesus is teaching the disciples not to ‘consider the things of old.’ The ‘new thing’ that is springing forth is the letting go of the old way of doing things like hoarding money and clinging to life.

“Jesus has come to set us free, so free that even in death, we will have life.”

Moving Forward: “What do you need to let go of to hold on to the ‘new thing’ that the love of God gives you?”