Isaiah 43:16-19 (NKJV) Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea. And a path through the mighty waters, Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick): “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
This Scripture is about the Israelites’ journey back to Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon. By reminding them of His mighty acts in the past, God was encouraging them to trust Him despite the long and arduous journey ahead. He needed to build confidence in His people so that He could continue to do what He had done in the past—and more—as they chose to walk with Him and in His ways. Different generations must experience God themselves instead of just hearing about the victory and deliverance brought by the Lord from their forefathers.
Throughout the Book of Isaiah, God emphasised and assured the Israelites that He is their King, their God, their creator, and their redeemer, who would never abandon them. We must remember that the Israelites were living under the Mosaic covenant, which is conditional. Therefore, God had to let them face the consequences of violating the laws through enemies’ invasions or exile in a foreign land. Animal sacrifices didn’t take away the sin but only served as a yearly reminder of it. God must judge the sin in the nation of Israel precisely because He is holy, just, and righteous.
However, we operate in the New Covenant, and God, our covenant partner, has established this everlasting covenant with us by His grace, through the blood of Jesus Christ. We can’t earn, achieve, or obtain it using our own strength. We need to understand the covenant terms so that we can be convinced that God will never abandon us, because the very purpose of the covenant is to give us the highest assurance of God’s love for us in good and bad times, and it is in bad times that we should call upon God for help because all resources are shared equally between the partners in a covenant relationship.
The Old Testament contains numerous examples of God being there for His people in times of crisis. As a shepherd boy, David experienced God’s protection from lions. His understanding of the covenant relationship is what made him fearless in his encounter of Goliath. The deliverance of God for the nation of Israel came through someone who knew God and His covenant rights.
Likewise, we as parents, especially the father of the household, must also experience and know God personally, and be convinced of God’s faithfulness, so that we can lead the family well through a crisis.
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认识你的盟约权利
以赛亚书43:16-19 耶和华在沧海中开道，在大水中开路。他必使车辆、马匹、军兵、勇士都出来，（他们一同躺下，不得起来）。 他们灭没，如熄灭的灯火。耶和华如此说：不要记念从前的事、也不要思想古时的事。19 我要行一件新事、这事必发生。难道你不知道吗?我必在旷野开道路，在沙漠开江河。
这段经文是关于以色列人从被流放的巴比伦归回耶路撒冷的旅程。尽管前面的路又长又艰难，这段经文藉着提醒他们神曾经所行的奇事来鼓励以色列人信靠祂。祂要建立子民的信心，如此祂就能继续做祂以往曾经做过的事—甚至更多—只要他们选择在祂的道上与祂同行。各个世代必须亲身经历神，而不是仅仅从他们的先祖那里听闻主的得胜和解救。
神藉着《以赛亚书》强调并向以色列人保证，祂是他们的王、他们的神、他们的创造者和他们的救赎者。祂永远不会抛弃他们。我们要记得以色列人活在摩西之约，那是附带条件的。因此，上帝让他们承担违背律法的后果，包括被敌人入侵，被流放到异国他乡。动物的献祭并没有除去罪，而是作为一个一年一度的提醒。神必精准地审判以色列人的罪因为祂是圣洁，公平，公义的。
然而，我们活在新约时代，而上帝，我们的盟约伙伴，出于祂的恩典，藉着耶稣基督的宝血与我们订立了这个永恒的约。我们无法凭借自己的能力赚取，取得、获得这恩典。我们需要理解约中的条款，好教我们能确信神永远不会抛弃我们，因为盟约的宗旨正是为了让我们无论在顺境还是逆境，都拥有上帝爱我们的至高确据。在危难之时我们应该呼求神的帮助，因为在盟约关系中，所有的资源都是平等共享的。
无论祂的子民遭逢何等危难，上帝总是在那里帮助他们，旧约中这样的例子数不胜数。作为一个牧童，大卫经历到上帝的保护，使他免遭狮子的伤害。对盟约关系的理解使大卫在面对歌利亚时面无惧色。上帝对以色列人的拯救是藉着某个认识神并明了其盟约权利之人。
同样地，我们作为父母，尤其是一家之父，必须亲身经历和认识上帝，深信神的信实，好教我们带领全家平稳度过危机。
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