Beginnings

          Thus says the Lord, Who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, “Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:16)

          Yesterday, I addressed the issue of to whom a promise was given. That’s an issue today, too. This admonition was given to the Jews, and I believe Jesus fulfilled it. In Christ’s fulfillment of it, He expanded the scope to all of humanity. It’s done. The new something is completed. If I promise to pay you to do something, once I’ve paid you, my obligation to you is ended. God isn’t required to do anything beyond what He has done. He’s not required to do anything else new. We can’t hold the promise of today’s passage over God’s head like the sword of Damocles.

          In spite of all that, I’m sharing this passage because there’s value there. The Lord is still God. The passage doesn’t say “… the Lord, who made a way through the sea….” It’s in the present tense. God didn’t change after He made this promise. He didn’t change after He fulfilled it. He’s the same God, will He not behave as He has behaved? Should we not behave as He has instructed in the past until or unless He gives us clear direction otherwise?

          Today’s passage may not be a specific promise to us, but God is still God and God is still good. There is wisdom in what He says here. As we reach the end of 2019, we needed to look back and learn the lessons of the year and the decade. As we move into 2020, however; we need to stop calling to mind the former things and stop pondering the things of the past. Those things are done. It’s time to stop circling the mountain in the wilderness and move into the Promised Land.

          This is scary territory. Dare we actually hope about the future? For some, that might be easy. I tend to overthink the past, and the present, and the future, and the past … What’s more, I tend to cringe about the future. There are too many chances to go in the wrong direction, to make the wrong choices. There have been a lot of endings this past year, and today feels like an ending of endings. Yes, tomorrow will be just the day after today, but I’m taking some big steps into some big new territory.

One of those big steps is the issue of today’s passage. Dare I stop calling to mind the former things and former errors? Dare I  stop pondering the past? Perhaps more important than those two questions is this one: dare I stop beating myself up for my past? Dare I look toward the future with hope? If I were talking to someone else, I’d say “Of course, you can and should dare to do these things!” It may be a sign of courage that I am daring to ask if I dare? It’s a bigger sign of courage that I am – or I think I am – daring to hope.

          I agree with those who are saying that they hope 2020 is a year of clearer vision. But 2020 looks like it’s also going to be a bigger new beginning that I have faced in a long time. I dare you to dare to step into this new year with courage and hope, and I pray for your new beginnings.