Walk with me on the highway of God to a bright future reality
By Dean Collins
The exiles from Judah had grown despondent, and that was understandable. They had that wilderness feeling yet again. They knew all the generational stories of their ancestors in the wilderness. They also knew of many times and ways God brought deliverance to his people. But it’s different when it’s you in the wilderness. When we are in the middle of a wilderness experience it is easy for discouragement to set in. Fatigue comes and with it a sense of weakness.
The more days you’re in the wilderness, the harder it is to imagine what life looked like before. You begin to wonder if there will even be another side to this current reality. In just that kind of moment the prophet Isaiah brought words of hope.
Words of hope
He began by describing full recovery of the land.
• Dry land shall be glad
• The desert will rejoice, and the crocus will bloom
• There will be so much growth and blossom that it will seem the earth is singing
If we try, we all can remember times when there was drought. Plants and grass no longer held their colors. Watering restrictions were common. But then, finally, it rained again, and the cycle was broken. Nature came to full bloom. Hope followed as our eyes gazed at new life and our nostrils sniffed the blossoms. Isaiah spoke of such a moment in a future the exiles had trouble imagining.
Words of instruction
But then the prophet gave instructions. We sometimes resist someone telling us what to do, but sometimes it is exactly what we need. When we don’t use our muscles they atrophy. They need to be exercised. There is yet work to do and play to enjoy. So Isaiah gave a fitness instruction.
• Strengthen weak hands
• Get your legs moving again and strengthen feeble knees
• Speak God’s words to your heart snd spirit. Be strong. Fear not!
In times of despair, we need to hear some basics, and we need to take action. The despair needs to be jolted.
Without denying that, Isaiah is clear that ultimately some things reside in God’s control and power.
• He will come with a vengeance to deal with those things and people that create oppression
• He will come and save us
• Blind eyes will be opened
• Deaf ears will be unstopped
• Legs that can’t walk will now run like a deer
• Where there was dry ground there will now appear fresh springs
Future realities
These realities will come one day for every believer. These aren’t just encouraging words for today; these are our future realities.
How do we get there from here? Isaiah tells us to take the highway! It’s a freeway offered by the grace of God named the Way of Holiness. It’s a roadway designed for anyone who allows Jesus to forgive and restore them. His offer is good on any day. And then you can walk on the highway out of your wilderness even today. There will be nothing to fear as we travel. Ransomed people only rejoice. Faces filled with joy and gladness travel together. Sorrow and sighing fade away.
These words from Isaiah must have brought hope to the exiles then. They bring hope to us as well. Things will get better, some things now and all things later.
On your bad day, I will speak truth to you. But I will need you to speak truth to me on mine. Together we will travel the highway of God to see him in all his glory. Our eternal and loving God will travel with us the rest of the journey. And when we arrive, I’m guessing we will think Isaiah’s descriptions were only a glimpse of our new home.
Your time with God’s Word
Isaiah 35:1-10 ESV
Photo by Hudson Hintze on Unsplash
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