NJ - Exegesis of Isaiah 43:18-19

God Is Doing a New Thing

Here’s an exegesis of Isaiah 43:18–19, focusing on the original context, theological meaning, and contemporary application.

📜 Isaiah 43:18–19 (ESV)

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.”

1. Literary and Historical Context

These verses are part of a prophetic message from Second Isaiah (chapters 40–55), written during the Babylonian exile (6th century BC). The prophet addresses a discouraged Israel who feels abandoned and powerless. Isaiah 43 offers words of comfort, hope, and renewal, assuring them that God’s redemptive purposes are not over.

Verses 16–17 recall the Exodus—God parting the Red Sea and defeating Egypt. Verses 18–19 then pivot: “Forget the former things… I am doing something new.”

2. Word Study and Key Phrases

• “Remember not the former things”: This isn’t a call to total forgetfulness but a shift in focus. The Exodus was great—but God isn’t limited to past miracles.

• “I am doing a new thing” (Hebrew: chadash): Signifies something unprecedented—not just a repetition of past acts, but a creative, redemptive intervention.

• “It springs forth”: Like a seed breaking the soil, God’s new act is already in motion—alive, surprising, and life-giving.

• “A way in the wilderness… rivers in the desert”: In ancient times, wilderness and desert symbolized danger, dryness, and desolation. God promises life and direction in barren places.

3. Theological Themes

a. God’s Creative Power

God is not bound by the past. He brings newness where there was once devastation. The “new thing” points to both physical deliverance (return from exile) and spiritual renewal.

b. Hope in Desolation

God’s new work happens in the wilderness and desert—symbols of hardship and loss. Renewal doesn’t wait for ideal conditions.

c. Redemptive Trajectory

This “new thing” anticipates not just the end of exile but also the greater redemptive work in Christ—new covenant, new heart, new creation (see 2 Cor. 5:17, Rev. 21:5).

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Revelation 21:5 NKJV

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

4. Application

a. Don’t Idolize the Past

Past victories or failures can blind us to God’s present work. Sometimes we cling to the old so tightly that we miss the new thing God is doing.

b. Perceive God’s Work Now

“Do you not perceive it?” suggests we may be unaware of God’s unfolding plan. This verse calls for spiritual attentiveness and faith.

c. God Makes a Way in the Wasteland

For those walking through burnout, loss, or confusion—God is still the one who makes paths in chaos and brings life to dryness.

In Christological Light

Christ fulfills this promise of a “new thing”:

• New exodus through Jesus (Luke 9:31, the “exodus” of the cross)

• Living water in the desert (John 7:38)

• New creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)

Summary

Verse Key Theme Application

v.18 Don’t get stuck in the past Trust God beyond past experiences

v.19 God is doing something new Be spiritually alert and expectant

Sermon Outline: God Is Doing a New Thing

Text: Isaiah 43:18–19

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 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.”

Main Idea

God invites His people to stop living in the past, recognise His new work in the present, and trust Him to make a way even in barren places.

Outline

I. Release the Past (v.18)

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.”

- Context: Israel was looking back at the Exodus — a great act of deliverance — but God says not to get stuck there.

- Key Point: Sometimes past victories or failures limit our vision of what God wants to do now.

- Application:

• Don’t idolize the past — even spiritual experiences.

• Don’t be trapped by guilt, nostalgia, or regret.

- Quote: “God’s past faithfulness should fuel expectation, not nostalgia.”

II. Recognise the New (v.19a)

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

- “Behold” — Pay attention! Something new is emerging.

- Key Point: God is always at work, even when we don’t see it.

- “Do you not perceive it?” — Suggests it’s easy to miss God’s work when we’re focused elsewhere.

- Application:

• Look for God’s activity in unexpected places — in pain, transition, or waiting.

• Ask: What “new thing” might God be birthing in your life, family, or church?

III. Trust God in the Wilderness (v.19b)

“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

- Wilderness = chaos, confusion, hardship.

- Desert = dryness, emptiness, lifelessness.

- Key Point: God brings pathways where there were none, life where there was death.

- This is the language of miracles — a new exodus!

- Application:

• God can bring clarity in confusion.

• God can renew barren places in your heart, home, or community.

• Trust His provision even when the landscape looks hopeless.

Conclusion

- God is not finished. - Don’t limit Him by your past. - Open your eyes to the new things He’s doing. - Trust Him to make a way — even in your wilderness.

Response/Call to Action

- Prayer of release: Let go of the past. - Prayer of awareness: Ask for eyes to see what God is doing now. - Prayer of trust: Surrender barren areas to God’s creative power.