A few days back, God spoke to me through this verse, and placed in me a burden to share it. In this article, I will attempt to share more on it.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Isa 43:18-19, KJV

Summary of Isaiah 40-66:

• Isa 40-66 prophesies abt what will happen during Israel’s post-exile period, although it’s written way before the exile
• Isa 40-48 is abt the the first exodus: how God opens up a path through the wilderness for Israelites (exiled Judah from Jerusalem, now in Babylon) after the exile to return, but Israel is comfortable where they are and stubbornly would not
• Isa 49-55 is the second exodus: through the suffering servant Messiah who will bring salvation
• Isa 56-66 continuing failure of Israel, but a grand future for God His people, and the nations (gentiles)

As discussed in Isa 41 article, there were two exoduses, for the exiled Judah in Babylon to return to their homeland.

The first exodus didn’t work out, as the Israelites couldn’t believe God would use Persian king Cyrus to bring them back to their homeland (Isa 45:9-10).

God then promised to bring about the second exodus through the suffering servant Messiah: Jesus.

In Isa 49-50, we see God’s servant Israel narrowing down to one servant, who will redeem Israel and the Gentile nations.

Please refer to Hos 6:2 article, for the northern kingdom Israel’s restoration.

Please refer to above and Isa 41 article, for the southern kingdom Judah’s restoration.

Please refer to 1 Kings 12:20 article, for a recap on how Israel divided into two: northern and southern kingdoms.

Let us focus on the first exodus mentioned in this verse, where God provides an escape route through the desert filled with abundant water.

As mentioned above, this plan also involves the Persian king Cyrus, as God had raised him up and anointed / chosen him to be Israel’s deliverer (Isa 45).

Please refer to Isa 41 article, for a recap.

In paving a way through the desert, He told them to not to remember the former great miracle of Him parting the Red Sea as He led them out of Egypt (v16-17).

Of course, He doesn’t mean the Israelites should forget their deliverance, or Yahweh their deliverer.

Ironically, the Israelites have forgotten Yahweh throughout their history after crossing the Red Sea, through their constant flirtation and appetite for idolatry.

Please refer to 1 Sam 1:5 article, for Israel’s history of flirtation with idolatry / syncretism.

Rather, He is telling them this time He is going to deliver them again, but in a very different way, from the past.

In fact, it’s the complete opposite: instead of parting the waters so the Israelites could walk on dry land, now He is going to provide water in the desert.

Indeed sometimes in life, God’s ways are not always perceived.

He doesn’t always do things and work out miracles in our lives the same way, as how He had done in our past.

Hence, we have to confirm through the prophetic, if He is actually working something new in our lives.

Please refer to the Prophetic series, for a more in-depth discussion on how to hear God’s voice in the prophetic.

And sometimes, the way He does things might even surprise us.

In this verse, He also expected the Israelites to be surprised, and thus warned them: “shall ye even know it?” In other words, He says to them: can you even believe it?

We should hence embrace changes, if He has confirmed this is His will and direction  for us.

Because His ways are always higher than ours, and we can trust Him to lead us to safety (Isa 55:8-9, Psa 23:1-2, Psa 4:8).