Adonai will Do a New Thing – Jeremiah 31:22

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:22 (NIV)

“How long will you wander, unfaithful Daughter Israel? The Lord will create a new thing on earth—the woman will return to the man.”

Jeremiah 31:22 (MSG)

“How long will you flit here and there, indecisive? How long before you make up your fickle mind? God will create a new thing in this land: a transformed woman will embrace the transforming God!”

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“How long will you hesitate [to return], O you faithless and renegade daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing in the land [of Israel]: a woman will encompass (tenderly love) a man.” -AMPLIFIED

“This passage probably personifies Israel as an erring but deeply penitent wife, who will devote herself to winning back and being worthy of the love of her divine husband and Lord, who had rejected her.” ~AMPLFIED footnote

In yesterday’s text, we found the Lord instructing the people of Israel to be sure to put up signposts, so they could find their way home. God’s Message:

“Set up road markers for yourself; establish signposts!
Keep the highway in mind, the way you have traveled.
Return, Virgin Israel! Return to these cities of yours.” -Jeremiah 31:21 (CSB)

The point is, God wanted them to find their way home to Him. We grasp this truth further as we look to today’s text, and find the Lord asking:

“How long will you drift this way and that, my renegade daughter? Take heart—for now the Eternal will do a new thing on the earth: a woman will surround a man.”-(VOICE)

Adonai inquires, “How long?” How long will you drift? How long will wander? How long will you flirt with the things of the world? How long will you hesitate to return to me?

And then we find the Lord calling Israel an unruly daughter, a renegade, wayward, and unfaithful. Exactly what she was; He does not ever attach to us a label that is not true. But He does not tiptoe around our sin. He calls it exactly what it is.

Thankfully, the Lord does not leave Israel in a hopeless place. As we have noticed before, He points out Israel’s sin, but encourages her with the change that could be brought about if she would but repent and turn from that sin. In this case, if the unfaithful daughter would return to Him, follow the signposts back to Him, then He would cause something new to happen. The Lord would embrace and transform Israel.

If we dig a little deeper into the final words of this verse, which are difficult to understand, we can find even more hope. The Lord says to Israel:

• “A woman will shelter a man.” -(NASB)
• “A woman will go seeking a man.” -(NCV)
• “Israel will embrace her God.” -(NLT)

There is hope in that statement. Israel would one day return to Adonai. There are many theologians who believe that this is a reference alluding to the coming of the Messiah, which is possible. But it is more likely that it refers to an unfaithful Israel returning to and seeking after her first love, Adonai, and finally finding Him.

Remember, when they find Him once again, His intention is to do a new thing for them.

“How long will you vacillate, O wayward daughter? For the Lord will cause something new and different to happen—Israel will search for God.” -(TLB)

“God still asks in pity, “how long will you seek here and there for comfort?” You will never find it till you come back to your God. Emptiness is written upon everything till the heart comes to its Saviour and Lord.” ~Charles Spurgeon

God is waiting patiently for His children to come home to Him. He will never force Himself on us, He is a gentleman waiting for us to ask Him to come and do for us what only He can do, make all things new.

Let us look at a few Scripture verses that stress the fact that God does not want us to stay the same, but He wants us to change. He wants to do new things in and through us.

May we grasp and fully understand something that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. It is only because of what God has done for us, that we can become new creations. If we repent and turn from our sin, then the old life is over, the new life has begun!

“Because of all that God has done, we now have a new perspective. We used to show regard for people based on worldly standards and interests. No longer. We used to think of the Anointed the same way. No longer. Therefore, if anyone is united with the Anointed One, that person is a new creation. The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun! All of this is a gift from our Creator God, who has pursued us and brought us into a restored and healthy relationship with Him through the Anointed. And He has given us the same mission, the ministry of reconciliation, to bring others back to Him. It is central to our good news that God was in the Anointed making things right between Himself and the world. This means He does not hold their sins against them. But it also means He charges us to proclaim the message that heals and restores our broken relationships with God and each other. So we are now representatives of the Anointed One, the Liberating King; God has given us a charge to carry through our lives—urging all people on behalf of the Anointed to become reconciled to the Creator God.” -2 Corinthians 5:16-20 (VOICE)

In the book of Isaiah, we find the Lord telling Israel that the past is in the past, but He wanted to do new things for them. And He tells them what those new things will look like.

Eternal One: “I am the Eternal One. By righteousness I have called you. I will take you by the hand and keep you safe. You are given as a covenant between Me and the people: a light for the nations, a shining beacon to the world. You will open blind eyes so they will see again. You will lead prisoners, blinking, out from caverns of captivity, from cells pitch black with despair. I am the Eternal One. I Am is My name. My beauty is unique, a weighty splendor all My own. And nothing else—no idols could possibly gain My praise. Look here, what’s done is done and gone. The now is new, and there’s hope in the not-yet. I will tell you what’s to come, even before the events are brand-new.” -Isaiah 42:6-9 (VOICE)

Also, in the book of Isaiah, we find the Lord encouraging Israel to stop focusing on their past, and start looking for the new things that He would do in their lives.

Eternal One: “Don’t revel only in the past, or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by. Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak, and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert; waters will flow where there had been none.” -Isaiah 43:18-19 (VOICE)

And again, in Isaiah, we find the Lord describing for Israel His Master plan for them, and His plan, His intentions are definitely for good.

Eternal One: “Now look here! I am creating new heavens and a new earth. The weary and painful past will be as if it never happened. No one will talk or even think about it anymore. So take joy and celebrate with unending gladness on account of what I am creating. Look carefully! I am making this place I’ve chosen, this Jerusalem, a city of joy. I’m making her citizens, My people, a people of gladness. This Jerusalem, My pride and joy, and her people will be a delight to Me. Though you listen at every corner, you will never hear crying, never hear despair or grief. Never again will a person not live a full life, for the young will live to be a hundred and any who die earlier will be considered cursed. People will confidently build houses and make them their homes; they will plant vineyards and enjoy their fruit for years to come. They won’t worry that someone else will come along, drive them out, and take it all away. For My people will live as long as these age-old trees; my chosen will use up and wear out whatever they make. They will not work hard for what others take away; they will not lose children to sudden terror and death. For they are the offspring of those blessed by the Eternal; they and their descendants will enjoy God’s blessings. I’ll anticipate their prayers and respond before they know it; even as they speak, I will hear. But they’ll all eat together like friends—wolf and lamb, lion and ox, and the biting snake will feed on dust. When that day arrives, there will be no evil, no violence, no hurt or wrong in all My sacred mountain.” -Isaiah 65:17-25 (VOICE)

“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.” ~Warren Wiersbe

My friend, God wants to do new things in your life too. Let us stop thinking that we are a hopeless case, that God could not possibly help us. Let us also stop looking back to our past, getting hung up on our guilt and sin. Instead, look forward, keep your eyes on the goal. God has new things in store for our lives, and ultimately, a new heaven and a new earth. Put your hope and trust in the One who can and will make all things new!

“The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation.” ~Adrian Rogers

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, you are in the transforming and changing business. You have instructed me to turn away from my sin. To follow the signposts home to you, so that you can change me into something new. There are many promises in your Word that stress the fact that you desire to do a new thing within the hearts of your children. You want to make them new. Lord, I want to submit, but sometimes that old nature rears its ugly head. I ask for your help in laying aside that old nature. Help me to crucify the flesh, I yield to you, Lord. Please, begin a new work within me. Thank you, Lord.