Here I am, doing a new thing; Now it is springing up—do you not know about it? I will surely make a way in the desert, rivers in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19, TLV

Context. What is the new thing God is about to do? I am not speaking as a scholar, but as an observer and lover of His word.

When God called Abraham apart from the nations, He wanted to train up Abraham’s chosen descendants to be witnesses to the world. Witnesses of who God is, the only Savior. He trained them to be worshippers of the One True God.

The Jewish people were forbidden to associate with the nations — the pagans. Great punishment was placed on them when they did because Israel couldn’t seem to maintain fidelity once they mixed with the Gentiles.

But then God knew that one day He would raise up the Messiah of Israel to be the Messiah for the nations. The very people He had forbidden them to go to, He would send them as witnesses and ambassadors of the Good News.

The set time would come when disciples of this Messiah would proclaim the way. They would proclaim as lights to the Gentiles the glory of Israel — the Savior of the world.

“A light for revelation to the nations’
and the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:32, TLV

A new thing. A miraculous thing. And we are witnesses and ambassadors, too.