A Way Through The Desert

It's always darkest before the dawn. This statement is a great metaphor describing the challenges of life. It reminds us life is fragile and unpredictable. An unfortunate reality of life is that it may worsen before it gets better.  

 
 

This pattern of bad preceding good is seen in the Bible. Before Joseph made it to Pharaoh’s palace, he was thrown into prison. Before the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian captivity, it became more oppressive. Before the Israelites crossed into the Promise Land, they wandered in the wilderness. Before Jesus was raised to life, he was beaten, bruised, and crucified.  

 
 

The prophet Isaiah uses this pattern of darkness before light. He warns the Israelites that darkness was coming upon Jerusalem by the hands of the Babylonians, and a remnant would be exiled for seventy years. It was going to be a dark time in the life of God's people. However, the darkness would be followed by deliverance. The Lord promised to bring his people back to the destroyed homeland, and they would rebuild again.  

 
 

Isaiah reminds God's people that he is for us: "Thus says the Lord your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I send to Babylon and bring them all down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice. I am the Lord your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King" (Isaiah 43:14-15). God is for his people.  

 
 

The Exodus event reassures God's people that he is with us: "Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down; they cannot rise; they are extinguished, quenched like a wick" (Isaiah 43:16-17). Opposing, or adverse circumstances, nor hostile people, or problems will ever deter God. The past is proof!  

 
 

Even so, God doesn't want his people to focus on completed victories: "“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old" (Isaiah 43:18). Forget past victories! Dwelling on the "good-old-days" can keep us from seeing the brand-new things God is doing at this moment in time, "Behold; I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19). God never runs out of ways to deliver his people from troubles.  

 
 

Dark experience after dark experience seems to be the rhythm of life. Challenging obstacles abound, long, drawn-out journeys that test our faith; unknown futures make us anxious. We lack security from day to day, and it seems like our heavenly home far off, and makes us question whether we will endure the journey. 

 
 

The past victories of God remind us that God delivers, but we must not stay focused on the past. God is consistently at work, and he is constantly doing a new thing. Therefore, we look to the future with hope, and move forward in strength, knowing that the conquering death and resurrection of Christ Jesus defeated Satan, sin, and death, and gives us life abundantly, and life eternally. 

Find yourself in a hard spot? I'm in one now! Nevertheless, God is doing a new thing. We must understand that we don't go from one new thing to another. When God does something new, a majority of the time it's preceded by trials and tribulations. And even if our misfortune is caused by our own disobedience (like Israel's) we can be confident that God is at work, molding us into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. Look up and trust God. He is doing a new thing. You just wait and watch.