Old paths and a new view

In The Chosen, Nicodemus and Shmuel wrestle with who Jesus really is. They know the Scriptures, they know tradition; yet this new Rabbi upends everything they thought they understood. What do you do when God begins to move in ways you didn’t expect?

Scripture holds this tension beautifully. In Jeremiah 6:16, God says, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it.” The call is to remember—to hold fast to what God has already revealed. The stories of the Old Testament remind us of his power, faithfulness, and mercy. They anchor us. As Romans 15:4 says, “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us.”

It’s vital to return often to God’s Word—to read, reflect, and remember. The Bible shapes our understanding of who God is and how he works. But there’s also a danger in limiting him to what we already know. Isaiah 43 reminds us, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

God is both faithful to the past and active in the present. He isn’t bound by our expectations or imagination. He still creates, restores, and surprises. Nicodemus and Shmuel’s struggle mirrors ours: can we recognize God when he moves in unfamiliar ways?

Discipleship means holding both truths together—walking in the ancient paths while watching for the new things God is doing. The same Lord who parted seas and raised prophets also renews hearts today.

Reflection Questions

• How often do you turn to Scripture to remember God’s faithfulness?
• How do you shape your quiet time with God? Are you satisfied with it or would you like to change it?
• How can you stay rooted in the “old paths” while remaining open to his fresh work?

Prayer

Lord, You are faithful and new all at once. Teach me to love Your Word and to recognize Your movement in my life today. Open my eyes to the new thing You are doing, and give me courage to follow wherever You lead. Amen.