A certain pastor I...
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A certain pastor I knew a number of years ago would frequently refer to his previous assignment, whenever he wished to explain how things should be done correctly. His suggestions were meant to be helpful but it always seemed he was living in the past and was convinced there was only one way to do things. Many of the parishioners had the same impression, which led a lady one day to tell her friend: "If he likes it so much there, why doesn't he go back?"
The Hebrew people gave a lot of attention to past happenings of their religious and national lives. The Exodus event was one which predominated many of the others. Although it was fine to dwell on, they knew they could not relive it nor would they want to.
Isaiah continually challenges them to look to the future and realize their God will do even greater deeds today and tomorrow than he did in the bygone days.
Regardless of how pleasant and enticing the past may have been, we can't live in nostalgia land but are called to move along with the Lord of history on the eternal journey into the unfolding excitement.
With Isaiah we walk to faith's fulfillment, where we will see rivers in the wasteland and lakes in the desert.
