Something Old, Something New

“But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

God is the God of the now!

What Is The Reminder? (vs. 14-20)

Reminder of Who He Is and what He will do (vs. 14-15)

Positions - Who

Yahweh - His name, reputation, character

I am that I am. I exist.

I do what I do. I am faithful.

Relational.

I will not forget you.

Creator

I am the one who created you.

Only I can make something out of nothing.

I began this and I will finish it.

Holy One - qadosh

set apart

free from the attributes of fallen humanity

Only I can do this perfectly and untainted.

It will be done perfectly.

Possessives - What

Your Redeemer

I will redeem you

I always come back for those who are mine.

Your Holy One

I will sanctify and purify you.

purpose of the exile

Your King

I will lead, guide, protect and provide

Nebuchadnezzar is not your king!

Reminder of The Exodus out of Egypt. (vs 16-17)

Bringing you out of slavery into freedom.

Don’t forget what I’ve done for you in the past.

Don’t forget why I’ve done it.

Reminder of Wilderness Wanderings. (vs. 19 - 20)

Sustained through the wilderness

I have given waters (streams) streams in the wilderness.

Water from the rock?

Subtle Reminder of the result: Entrance into the Promised Land

What Is Their Current Situation (vs 14-15)

Exile In Babylon

But, don’t just reminisce and ponder what I did then.

For I am actively doing something similar, but new. A new Exodus.

God says, “Just like I brought you out of slavery to Egypt, so I will bring you out of exile in Babylon.”

I brought victory then, I will bring victory now.

I redeemed you then, I’ll redeem you now.

I provided them, I will provide now.

I will bring you safely back to the Promised Land.

Speaks to the Future

God will be faithful in the future as well.

We don’t have to worry about anything that comes our way.

The continuity of God’s faithfulness makes hope for the future possible.

The God of the Exodus is the same God today and will be the same God tomorrow.

The God of the Wilderness is the same God today and will be the same God tomorrow.

What Is The New Thing God Is Doing? (vs. 19)

What Was A Barrier The First Time Will Now Be A Blessing.

God had made a way through the waters.

Now He will take the water and make rivers in the desert.

With God as it’s source. The headwaters.

There are things in our life that feel like a wall in front of us.

There are times we feel derailed and detoured.

There are times we feel like the trial in front of us is too much to bear.

But God takes those barriers and turns them into blessings.

The frustrating detours. There have been times in my life when a delay has caused me to miss an accident or even bump into someone I might have missed had I gotten there earlier.

The trials. The things I learned from the trial, I am better off for. Compassion, empathy, understanding.

The blessing is not just for God’s people, but for His creation as well.

Now It Will Spring Forth

NOW -

The future has already begun - It is already springing forth.

When you see the shoot, you know what is to come.

Faith does not only have to do with the past...

To the one who believes that paths in the desert are possible, but then says, “There is no water, we shall die of thirst.”

Faith is also focused on the present.

The experience of the past helps toward an understanding of things in the present.

We must reflect on the past with gratitude and with stimulated faith, but not allow it to stereotype our expectations from God.

God’s plan and principles will never change.

How He brings them about will change.

Faith is also with a view towards the future.

Will you not perceive it?

God Has Authored It, But We Have To Seek God To See It. (vs. 22, 24)

Caution: You have not called on Me…You have become weary of Me…You have not brought to me your burnt offerings and sacrifices…You have burdened and wearied me with your sins.

If you would just do things the way I have asked you to do them, then you would see what I have planned.

But you refuse.

This is the plan and intentions, but instead of seeking the Lord, they have wearied Him instead.

I have blessings and deliverance for you, but you don’t call on me for them.

You don’t really trust me to deliver.

Application Questions

He will make a way through the wilderness. Do you feel like you’re in a wilderness?

Rivers in the desert. Do you feel withered up? Does your soul feel empty and dry?

Will you not be aware of it? God is waiting, He is ready, He is willing.

To Give Drink to My Chosen People.

The people I have formed for myself.

You can’t get around the connection between water and the Holy Spirit in any of this.

Isaiah 44:3 NASB95

‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;

John 7:38–39 NASB95

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The Proper Response Of God Acting. (vs. 20-21)

Recognition, Honor And Praise

All Of Creation

Even the wildlife will rejoice at God’s blessing on His people.

Why? So that we will declare the praises of God.

Why?

God Brings Life From Death

God Opens Up Ways Where There Was None Before

God Quenches Our Thirsty Soul

Applications:

We cannot rest on the laurels of the past. We must press on.

Do not live in the past.

Philippians 3:12–14 NASB95

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

When we hold on to the past, good or bad, God can’t do something new in our lives.

Let go of old habits. Let go of old ways of doing things. Let go of hurts, bitterness, disappointments. Let go of wrongs done to you. Forgive.

Let go of the good. Sometimes we hold on to the good memories too tightly that we don’t leave room for God to do something new. Why? It’s risky. What if God doesn’t do something good or new in my life? Fear. What if this is all the good I’m going to get.

We’ve got to let go in order for God to do something new.

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