Isaiah 43:18
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Isaiah 43:18
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
God is calling His people to look forward to a future so incredibly different and wonderful that it will dwarf their past experiences. He's not asking them to forget their history, but to set aside the way they've relied on past victories to define their hope and identity. Instead, they should anticipate a "new thing" that God is about to do, something so significant it will change their very understanding of His power.
God is about to do something entirely new and miraculous for His people, surpassing even the great deliverance from Egypt. He commands them to focus on this future redemption rather than dwelling on past victories or troubles. This sets the stage for God's promise to make a way through the wilderness and bring forth rivers in the desert, symbolizing His powerful intervention in their upcoming liberation.
God's future plans are so immense, they'll make your past triumphs look small. It's time to shift your focus.
The verse encourages us to 'remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.' This isn't about forgetting God's past faithfulness; it's about not letting past blessings become the ceiling for future expectations. Israel had incredible experiences with God, like the Exodus from Egypt, which were monumental. However, God was about to do something even greater – their return from Babylonian exile and, ultimately, the coming of the Messiah.
Think of it like this: if you've won a local championship, that's amazing! But if you're now being invited to play in the World Cup, focusing on the local victory might actually hold you back. God is calling His people to look forward, to embrace the new thing He is doing, which will far surpass anything they’ve experienced before.
What if God’s greatest work in your life is still ahead? Prepare yourself for a 'new thing' that will redefine your understanding of His power.
The core message here is that God is continually at work, initiating fresh actions and bringing about new realities. The phrase 'Behold, I am doing a new thing' (Isaiah 43:19) is a powerful declaration. It means God isn't static; He’s dynamic and actively creating something unprecedented.
This 'new thing' for Israel meant a radical shift from their captivity and despair. It involved making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert – overcoming impossible circumstances. This speaks to God’s ability to create pathways where none exist and to bring life and sustenance into barren situations. For us, this 'new thing' can mean new opportunities, new breakthroughs, or even a new understanding of His character and power, often appearing in unexpected ways.
Understand the original words
bin · Hebrew Verb
An act of the mind or heart involving focused attention, contemplation, or reflection upon God's past works or future purposes, often used in Scripture as an imperative to acknowledge God's sovereignty.
This verse comes from a period of immense national trauma and transition for the people of Israel. Having been exiled from their homeland to Babylon, they were struggling with despair and the temptation to dwell on past glories. The prophet's message urges them to look forward to God's new and even greater work of deliverance, which would far surpass the Exodus from Egypt and ultimately lead to the return from exile and the coming of the Messiah.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Isaiah prophesied Jerusalem's miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian siege, a moment of national hope and a vindication of God's promise.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Victory at Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar's decisive victory marked the rise of Babylon and began the process that would lead to Judah's subjugation and eventual exile.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, deporting the first significant group of Judeans, including members of the royal family and skilled craftsmen, to Babylon.
587 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Jerusalem was destroyed, and a larger portion of the remaining population, including the prophet Jeremiah and Ezekiel, was exiled to Babylon.
This passage also speaks of a future deliverance that will overshadow past redemptions, creating a similar emphasis on God's new work.
Jeremiah 23:7-8These verses directly parallel Isaiah's message, stating that future deliverances will be more significant than the Exodus, making the former events seem less prominent by comparison.
Isaiah 42:9This verse speaks of God declaring new things and the former predictions coming to pass, echoing the theme of God's continuous and forward-looking action.
Isaiah 48:6-7Here, God explicitly states He is declaring new things that were not known before, directly supporting the idea of moving beyond past events.
2 Corinthians 5:17This New Testament passage speaks of being a 'new creation' in Christ, reflecting the transformative power of God's 'new thing' that eclipses the past.
barnesIsaiah 43:18: "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old."
Remember ye not ... - So great and wonderful shall be God's future interpositions in your behalf, that what he has done, great as that was, shall be comparatively forgotten. The former things - The deliverance from Egypt, and the overthrow of his enemies there. The things of old - The things that were formerly done.
bensonIsaiah 43:18: "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old."
Isaiah 43:18-19 . Remember ye not the former things — But although your former deliverance out of Egypt was in itself a most glorious work, which you ought always to remember and consider; yet this other work, of your deliverance out of Babylon, and those blessings which shall follow upon it, and particularly that of sending the Messiah, shall be so transcendent a favour, that, in comparison thereof, all your…
God is calling His people to look forward to a future so incredibly different and wonderful that it will dwarf their past experiences. He's not asking them to forget their history, but to set aside the way they've relied on past victories to define their hope and identity. Instead, they should anticipate a "new thing" that God is about to do, something so significant it will change their very understanding of His power.
God is about to do something entirely new and miraculous for His people, surpassing even the great deliverance from Egypt. He commands them to focus on this future redemption rather than dwelling on past victories or troubles. This sets the stage for God's promise to make a way through the wilderness and bring forth rivers in the desert, symbolizing His powerful intervention in their upcoming liberation.
God is about to do something entirely new and miraculous for His people, surpassing even the great deliverance from Egypt. He commands them to focus on this future redemption rather than dwelling on past victories or troubles. This sets the stage for God's promise to make a way through the wilderness and bring forth rivers in the desert, symbolizing His powerful intervention in their upcoming liberation.
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c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus began his conquests, unifying the Medes and Persians and setting the stage for his eventual takeover of the Babylonian Empire.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Cyrus
Cyrus conquered Babylon, fulfilling prophecies and paving the way for the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
"“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old." — God is calling His people to look forward to a future so incredibly different and wonderful that it will dwarf their past experiences. He's not asking them to forget their history, but to set aside t…