"Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already — you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.” Is 43:19
Did you know there is no specific Hebrew word for coincidence? Whenever things come together, happen, correlate, the Hebrew mindset is one of “Ah, God.”
I was in a time of worship, praying forth what God had put on our hearts - declarations, proclamations, repentance… and there was a theme running throughout - The Parting of the Red Sea.
You know the story, the newly freed Israelites in mass exodus from Egypt when Pharaoh has second thoughts and pursues. The Red Sea bars escape; Pharaoh’s horses pound in approach. Then the miracle - the sea split. The Exodus continues, Pharaoh persists - and drowns, with most of his army.
I discovered later the Torah reading for the upcoming week was of the Red Sea and Israelite Exodus. “Ah, God…what are you saying to your people?”
On inauguration eve I asked God for a scripture - one to meditate upon and mull over in this season. I clearly heard Isaiah 43. The chapter references the Red Sea parting (v 16) and Pharaohs demise (v17). Beyond my personal “Ah, God…” moment the following verses encouraged me:
V. 2 GNB “…I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burnt; the hard trials that come will not hurt you.”
V. 13 GNB “I am God and always will be. No one can escape from my power; no one can change what I do.”
V. 18-19 GNB “But the LORD says, “Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.
The verses brought me comfort. In a land divided and its people feeling as if they are unable to share, talk freely, and express themselves due to a legitimate concern of being censored, ostracized or outcast, God is up to something! Something big. Roads through wildernesses are no small feat.
The state in which I reside has no value, currently, for conservative viewpoints and stances. I realized this harsh, cold reality first hand when I called my representatives to express my stance in relation to laws being considered. My faith took a BIG hit. Then I turned to God and asked his opinion. I recalled Isaiah 43… “Ah, God…”
I believe there are going to be many, many, many “Ah, God…” moments in the next few months, if we are listening, watching, and looking for God’s hand making inroads where there were no roads.
I am once again expectant.
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How do you recharge your faith? How do you keep your perspective positive and one of praise?