The Word this week is Isaiah 43:19 – a chapter given to captive Israel, exiled in a foreign land, where God gives a promise of victory, reminding them of the Red Sea experience and says: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?”
I have had a life long fascination with words: how they fit into a context, how they can differ from one set to another, the way they can communicate using so many nuances – the list goes on and on.
One such fascinating word is “new.” A new book : uhmm, the smell of those unopened pages – just leafing through them and getting a glimpse as to what adventures are being offered is sufficient to put me in a good mood (can you tell I’m a bookoholic?). A new car – do we not tend to keep that interior scent fresh? Then there is the new outfit, ready to wear as soon as possible, enriching any special event. Not to speak of a new toy, especially the adult sized ones.
Our family compound has three dogs. My nephew B.J.’s Bubba is an old man in dog years, yet the most exciting thing for him is a new stuffed animal. He and I have an arrangement: when I come over, he dashes into his corner and comes out with his new toy; I am supposed to chase him to take it from him. I never win! The other night I came over and B.J.’s house was in pitch black darkness. I came in through the back door, and charging into me was Bubba, furiously barking, the defender and protector of his master. When he saw me in the dark, he immediately dashed into his dark corner, new toy between his teeth and he and I were supposed to chase – in the pitch black darkness. Was he ever excited at the prospect – me less so! A picture of unsophisticated excitement over “NEW”.
God gifted me with three overseas appointments, including Latvia, a small Baltic nation recently freed from communism. Every ministry had new attached to it. God challenged us; pursuing opportunities reaching people was always an exquisite experience.
Scripture has an abundance of “new.” Luke 1 shows us Zechariah ministering in the holy of holies in the Temple, a once in a lifetime experience. His wondrous new experience was enriched and made mysterious even further by the angel. Zechariah’s response was: how can I be sure? The angel places his finger on Zechariah’s lips, in essence saying: “Be quiet and watch God work.” The inconceivable, impossible, incredible so often seem to be God’s plan. The cross was! Watch Him work what new He wants to do in you, because continuously “I am doing a new thing” is at work.
Watch God at work – His showing up at the cross still interacts with our lives today. As you and I reflect on that new – oh, that we would be as excited over our new, as Bubba with his new stuffed toy.
Youth Department