Behold, 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.
God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to Israelites who feel abandoned in exile. After years of punishment and feeling forgotten, God announces He's already at work on something unprecedented — like finding water in a barren desert. The phrase "do you not perceive it" suggests God's work is already happening, but people might miss it because they're focused on their pain. This isn't just comfort; it's an invitation to look for God's surprising, life-giving work in impossible places.
God of impossible gardens, open my eyes to see where You're already at work in my wastelands. When all I see is dust, teach me to spot the first fragile shoots of Your new thing. Make me brave enough to believe in streams where there's only been desert. Amen.
Picture the cracked earth of your most barren season — the job that disappeared, the relationship that shattered, the diagnosis that stole your breath. Into that landscape, God whispers: "I'm already here, pushing up tender shoots of new life you can't yet see." Not tomorrow. Not when you get your act together. Now. But here's the thing — the Israelites had to choose to look past their rubble to spot the green shoots. Your wasteland might be depression so thick you can't imagine morning, or singleness stretching endlessly, or a child who won't speak to you. Where might God already be making streams in your particular wilderness today?
What did the Israelites' 'wasteland' look like historically, and how does God describe His response?
Think of a current 'desert' in your life — what would 'streams' look like in that place?
Why does God ask "do you not perceive it" instead of just announcing what He's doing?
How might this verse change how you view someone else's barren season?
What's one way you can actively look for God's 'new thing' this week?
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 35:6
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:10
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3
I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
Isaiah 41:18
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:5
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isaiah 44:3
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Isaiah 42:9
"Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
AMP
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.
ESV
'Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
NASB
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
NIV
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.
NKJV
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
NLT
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
MSG