Water in the Wilderness

Text: Isaiah 43:16-21
Service Date: 4.06.25
Sermon:

As we continue in the Lenten season, we are here to reflect on the Salvation that we receive
from God. The salvation that we receive in our most difficult and dark times, whether we are
facing difficult times individually or difficulties in our society.

Looking at this passage, we see the exodus imagery is clear in this passage, with its
references to the God who makes a way in the sea, who quenches the enemy chariots and
warriors like a wick–the God whom Israel had remembered ever after at the annual Feast of
the Passover.

This passage makes references to some of God’s ways of saving his chosen people,
especially from a societal point of view. Throughout scripture, we see whole societies facing
famine, economic disparity, and captivity.

In the events when Isreal was captured by Babylon, the Israelites were captured and
struggling to survive. Physically, economically, culturally, and religiously, the people felt the
might of Babylon, and it seems that one of the tasks of the prophet was to rebuild the
people’s understanding of themselves as God’s own people and to reassure them that their
god was fully capable of taking on the Babylonian superpower to save them.

We are currently in a time where men, women and children are living in fear. They fear for
their friends, family and loved ones as we see people being abused by those in charge of our
government. We are also figuring out how to live in nationwide economic struggles. It is in
this time that we kneel on God’s salvation.

In 41:22, the “former things” and the “things to come” seem to refer to doing anything and
everything–which God can and does do, while the idols cannot. Because of that, we lean on
God to deal with the struggles that we are facing societally.

Apparently, part of God’s new thing is a new kind of deliverance. In the old exodus, the horse
and rider were thrown into the sea (Exodus 15:1). The Egyptians were quenched like a wick
(Isaiah 43:17). But that is precisely what God’s gentle servant will not do (42:2-3). Now God
will bring Torah and justice to the nations in a new way.

What was the new thing God would be doing? Isaiah delivered a message of new life and a
new hope for Isreal. The promise of God would be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus and the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

God is love, therefore, there is always a way to God’s restoration and salvation. When we
live out the love of God, there is a healing that echoes through time. The love that we show
to the world brings healing in a way that transforms the way that we see the world in the
world’s most difficult time. God is love; therefore, it is through love that we heal the world
for the benefit of those that need healing.

​ We can experience a new life in him by following his new path and drinking his refreshing
new water.

Conclusion: Let us be people who love God and bring healing to the world.