Isaiah 43:16-21 Meaning: The God Who Makes a Way in the Desert
16Yahweh, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters,
17who brings out the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick) says:
18“Don’t remember the former things, and don’t consider the things of old.
19Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs out now. Don’t you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20The animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honor me, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise.
16Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
21This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
16Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick):
18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.
16Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving in the sea a way, And in the strong waters a path.
17Who is bringing forth chariot and horse, A force, even a strong one: `Together they lie down--they rise not, They have been extinguished, As flax they have been quenched.'
18Remember not former things, And ancient things consider not.
19Lo, I am doing a new thing, now it springeth up, Do ye not know it? Yea, I put in a wilderness a way, In a desolate place--floods.
20Honour me doth the beast of the field, Dragons and daughters of an ostrich, For I have given in a wilderness waters, Floods in a desolate place, To give drink to My people--My chosen.
21This people I have formed for Myself, My praise they recount.
16Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters,
17who bringeth forth chariot and horse, army and power — they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched as tow:
18— Remember not the former things, neither consider the ancient things:
19behold, I do a new thing; now it shall spring forth: shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the waste.
20The beast of the field shall glorify me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I will give waters in the wilderness, rivers in the waste, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
21This people have I formed for myself: they shall shew forth my praise.
Meaning in one sentence
God recalls the Red Sea deliverance to announce a greater exodus from Babylon. He promises a way through the wilderness and rivers in the desert for His people.
Context
This passage sits in the middle of a long prophecy to the people of Israel living in exile. God has just finished reminding them that He alone is their redeemer and that He will bring down Babylon for their sake. Now He calls them to look back, way back, to the defining moment of their history: the day He split the Red Sea. The chariots and horses of Egypt were swallowed by the waters, and Israel walked through on dry ground. But God is not finished. He is about to do something so fresh and so great that all the old miracles will seem small by comparison. The same Lord who made a path through the sea promises to make a road through the wilderness and rivers in the desert, providing for His chosen people on their return journey home.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words stand out in this passage. First, the verb za.khar (to remember) in verse 18: "Don't remember the former things." This sounds harsh, but the word often carries the sense of "call to mind as a basis for action." God is not asking His people to develop amnesia about His faithfulness. He is saying: stop basing your hope only on what I did back then. Something bigger is coming.
Second, the word for "new" in verse 19 is cha.da.shah. It means something unheard of, unprecedented, not just a repeat of the old miracle but a fresh act of deliverance that eclipses it. God describes that new thing with a verb that paints a picture: titz.mach, it springs up, like a plant pushing through dry soil. The deliverance is already beginning to grow, even before the people see it.
Finally, in verse 21 God says He formed (ya.tsar) this people for Himself. That same verb is used in Genesis for the Creator shaping Adam from the dust. Israel is not a random group; God has shaped them with purpose: that they might declare His praise. He is making a way through the wilderness for a people He personally fashioned to tell His story.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians from many traditions have seen layers of meaning in this passage. Early church fathers and many Protestant commentators read it primarily as the literal deliverance from Babylonian exile that occurred in the sixth century BC, which also serves as a type of a greater spiritual deliverance through Christ. Catholic interpreters often connect the "new thing" to the salvation brought by Jesus and the gift of the Spirit, seeing the water in the desert as a symbol of baptism and grace. Reformed theologians emphasize the sovereignty of God who calls His chosen people and works all things for His glory. Pentecostal readers may see the rivers in the desert as a picture of the Holy Spirit being poured out on dry and barren lives. All agree: God is not content to rest on past victories. He is always pressing forward into new acts of redemption.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take "Don't remember the former things" as a command to suppress all memories of God's past work. In fact, God uses strong hyperbole to say that the coming deliverance will be so astonishing that past miracles like the Red Sea crossing will fade in comparison. He is not erasing history. He is surpassing it. The people are invited to shift their focus from what God did to what God is about to do.
Living This Out
This week, you might be facing a situation that feels like a dead end: a relationship that has run dry, a financial problem with no visible solution, a season of grief that seems endless. The God who made a path through the sea and a road in the wilderness is the same God who promises to make a way where there is no way. Instead of replaying the old solutions that used to work but no longer fit, ask Him to show you the "new thing" He is already starting to grow. It may be small at first, like a shoot pushing through hard ground, but He is the one who brings rivers to the desert. Watch for it.
Main takeaway: God surpasses His greatest past works because He is always doing a new thing for the people He formed for Himself.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God made a road through the sea for His people to walk on dry ground. Now He says He will make a road through the desert too. God always finds a way to help His children, even when it seems impossible.
For ages 9, 12
When the Israelites were trapped at the Red Sea, God opened the water and led them through on dry land. But in this passage, God tells them not to focus only on that old miracle because He is about to do something even greater: He will make a way through the wilderness and provide water in the desert. This shows us that God is not stuck in the past. He is always doing creative new things to rescue and provide for His people. When you face a hard situation this week, ask God to show you the new path He is making for you.
Questions People Ask
What does 'new thing' mean in Isaiah 43:19?
The Hebrew word cha.da.shah means something unprecedented or unheard of. It refers to a deliverance so remarkable that it will surpass the exodus from Egypt. Many Christians see this as pointing both to the literal return from Babylon and to the ultimate redemption through Christ.
Why does God tell Israel to forget the former things?
This is a strong invitation to shift focus. God is not erasing history; He is elevating the future. The coming deliverance will be so great that past miracles will seem small in comparison. He wants His people to trust Him for something new rather than relying only on past experiences.
How does Isaiah 43:16-21 connect to the Exodus?
The passage deliberately echoes the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14). God is the same God who made a way through the sea, and He now promises to make a way through the wilderness. The first exodus is a pattern and guarantee for the new exodus from Babylon, and for all future acts of salvation.
What is the significance of 'rivers in the desert'?
In the ancient Near East, water in the desert was a sign of life and divine provision. The image is both literal (God supplying water for the returning exiles) and symbolic of spiritual refreshment, grace, and the Holy Spirit. It shows that God can bring abundance to the most barren places.
Is this passage only about the Babylonian captivity or also about spiritual deliverance?
The primary meaning is the historical return from Babylon, but most Christian traditions see it as a type of a greater spiritual deliverance through the Messiah. The same pattern of God making a way where there is no way applies to salvation and to personal situations of trial and need.
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