Next to "love," the word "new" is one of the most overworked words in our world. If it isn't new, we immediately consign it to ancient history. A minister friend, tells of speaking to a group of seventh grade confirmands. They were at a rather rustic retreat center. One boy came up to him, saying, "Boy! Is this place old! In the bathroom you have to turn on two faucets to get hot and cold water!" New and old is always relative, of course, but we quickly tire of the old and readily embrace the new as better.

This text is the announcement of God that he is doing a "new thing (v. 19)." Actually there are several new things mentioned in this account. God is dealing with exodus; three of them, in fact. The first exodus was from slavery in Egypt, the second exodus was from slavery in Babylon, and…