“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18
Dear Ones:
When the two angels came to save Lot, his wife, and two daughters, from being destroyed in the destruction of Sodom, they were told: “…look not behind thee.” (Gen. 19:17) The command to not look back had significant ramifications for Lot’s wife, as she disobeyed. She most certainly did not want to leave Sodom, because she did not believe God, nor in the coming destruction. The result was that she was turned into “…a pillar of salt.”
When Naomi told Ruth and Orpah to return to their people and their gods, Orpah chose to do so. Ruth, on the other hand, chose to forsake the gods of the Moabites, as well as the people’s culture. Ruth chose not to be dominated by “former things,” hence, she was free to go forward, following Naomi, placing her trust in the God of Israel.
When Christ calls us to follow Him, He instructs us first to “deny ourselves.” This is an act, a beginning of “forgetting” ourselves, and those former things…things of old. It is an act, followed by an attitude.
When Paul, from Prison, writes to the Philippians, he writes them his own testimony: “…but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…I press forward.” (3:13,14) What is he saying here? He is illustrating this very real principle of the necessity of not having the past as a reference point for present and future blessing.
We recently dealt with the issue of being “teachable,” taking the Holy Spirit as our teacher with regard to the things of God. Here we are dealing with the issue of “openness,” a willingness to BEGIN AGAIN, embrace the “new thing,” experiencing “new mercies.” Isaiah, in writing to Israel with regard to past failure, but present cleansing and forgiveness, speaks also of what the Lord wants, even WILLS to do in the heart of the nation (and individual). He wants to do the new thing, give a new beginning. But, is Israel open to this? The answer to that question is in another question: “Is Israel willing (open) to forget the former things, the consideration of the “former things,” in order to be available to God for HIS PRESENT and FUTURE PURPOSES?
In Isaiah 42, God addresses Israel by saying: “I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them IN PATHS THAT THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN: I will make the darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things I will do unto them, and not forsake them. (v.16) Are we truly willing to NOT let the past be the point of reference in determining the way in which God would lead us in the present, and future? Have we told Him such?
Dear Father, You have made the Lord Jesus to be our Wisdom. Indeed, all the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hid in Him. Save us from looking back at success or failure, at things, circumstances, or people, who could turn us aside from Thy best and highest. Strengthen us to look only unto Jesus, our Author and Finisher of faith, trusting Thee to lead us, bringing us into conformity with Thy purposes and Thy will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad