Freedom is Good News Part 177

In our previous article I initiated a couple of ideas that somehow seemed divergent.  I first mentioned that through Isaiah, God said He was doing a new thing; I then took us all the way back to Abraham to consider the sevenfold blessing that God gave to Abraham.  Does this ‘new thing’ involve Abraham? 

The blessing he received that ‘all families of the earth will be blessed’ through him was a statement that prophesied a Savior who would come from the lineage of Abraham.  In other words (as Paul put it), ‘God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’  

This Savior, from the lineage of Abraham is, of course Jesus Christ.  But that’s not really a new thing is it?  Let’s check back in with Isaiah (where we started this whole discussion), “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  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.”  So this ‘new thing’ has to do with water?  Isaiah goes on to say “The wild animals will honor me … because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to my chosen people, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” (Isa. 43:19-21)

Water is not a ‘new thing’ so what is God trying to show us here?  In John Chapter 7 we find Jesus attending the Feast of Tabernacles.  John (in verse 14) tells us that He did not go up to the temple courts to teach until halfway through the feast.  And then in verse 37 John writes this, “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’  Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

We, who live in the United States today, tend to take water for granted.  A twist of the faucet handle and we have an abundant supply of water.  Water was precious in the ancient Middle East and so Jesus uses it as a metaphor for the precious Holy Spirit!  Could this be the ‘new thing’ Isaiah was talking about?

Well in a way, yes; but it goes much further than that.  Remember what the blessing to Abraham was?  ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’  

You see, God’s kingdom was prophesied to increase without end.  In Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Jesus Christ (Is. 9:7) we read this, “And of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom.”  The rulership of Jesus Christ will increase in number and remain forever. 

Joel put it this way, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions.”  Please stay tuned we are just getting started!!