April 8, 2019

Although Isaiah is full of messianic prophecies concerning Jesus Christ, this particular chapter is particularly key on that Messiah being our Savior more than most of the prophecies in other chapters. It starts talking about God redeeming us in verse 1 and being with us in hard times in verse 2. In verse 3 it literally mentions how God is our savior and how He saves us out of His great love for us. There’s also much mention of the sacrifices that are made to save us (v. 3, 4) and how we didn’t choose God because of our sinful tendencies and wandering heart but instead, he chose us (v. 22-25). God also shows the exclusivity of salvation only through the one true God and His mediator, Jesus Christ (v. 3, 10-11). It truly is amazing how Jesus fulfills all of these characteristics of the savior in this chapter with actions, words, and events 700 years before.

Although the entire chapter is beautiful, the passages that stand out to me the most this time when reading this were verses 18-19.

18 Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 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 43:18-19

Can you imagine hearing this after experiencing or hearing stories of the exodus and the wilderness? You want to talk about a picture of salvation during that time and to know that God is doing something new moving forward with his people and that picture of salvation!  This could be true for some of us today as well. What God used at our church or in our methods of introducing Jesus to people could be a bit outdated in comparison to what God is doing today and in the future. The Gospel message never changes but how we do certain things in different cultural times can certainly change. God gives us timeless truths and answers for spiritual questions and concerns and we should be ready for what God may be doing anew with the people around us and the church He has given us.