Looking back or looking forwards?

In Isaiah 43.16-18, God reminds us that he parted the Red Sea and then he says

‘But forget all that – it is nothing compared to what I am going to do’.

Think about that for a minute, God references one of the most powerful and profound miracles that his people had experienced but then says that it was nothing compared to what he was going to do next.

For many of us, it’s hard to think of many things that would top the parting of a sea, but God wants us to know that with him, there is always more to come.

In my experience, some Christians look back at their past faith experiences rather than focusing on their faith now and we can even become obsessed with how things used to be. Perhaps it’s focusing on the time when an inspirational Christian had an impact on us or when the church building used to be full and overflowing every Sunday.

If we look back a lot and mourn for what we have lost. If we wish we could return to a previous time within our Christian walk, then God has something to say to us:

‘But forget all that – it is nothing compared to what I am going to do’.

God promises to do a new thing that will surprise and overwhelm us.

God promises a new and amazing thing, so why are we looking back?

At the end of the description of this new thing, God says

‘But, you refuse to ask for my help’ (v22)

God was longing to do a new thing, but his people had given up acknowledging or even calling on him.

If God wants to do a new thing in our life and circumstances, are we ready to follow his lead or are we too busy living our own lives?