A voice cries out in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way of Adonai [the LORD],
Make straight in the desert
a highway for our God . . .” Isaiah 40:3, TLV
Prepare the Way. This chapter in Isaiah is both prophetic and an encouragement to a beleaguered and rebellious people. Yet, it speaks to those believing remnant of the Jewish people, and those who will repent and return.
The context of the book Isaiah is both historical, prophetic, instructional, with the encouragement of hope. Today’s verse is an obvious prophetic reference about a voice crying in the wilderness.
In those days, John the Immerser came proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, “Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” For he is the one Isaiah the prophet spoke about, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of ADONAI, and make His paths straight.’” (Matthew 3:1-3, TLV, Emphasis Mine)
But is this responsibility only for John the Immerser? Of course not. As redeemed children of the Most High GOD, we can truly make “paths” and “highways” ready for His entrance into someone’s heart. How do we do this?
The analogy of a desert is interesting and may be helpful in answering that question. Did you ever play in the sandbox as a child? Or play in the sand at the shore? Sand is not the most cooperative material, especially the sand that hasn’t been in contact with moisture for some time. It doesn’t want to make a sandcastle or much of anything. However, the closer we get to water, the sand becomes more pliable, shapeable.
Making a straight path in this world for our Heavenly Father’s Son, Yeshua [Jesus], is much like the dry sand of a desert. Difficult to work with. But we have access to Living Waters [Mayim Chayim], our Messiah.
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Yeshua stood up and cried out loudly, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture says, ‘out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38, TLV, Emphasis Mine)
We have an eternal, limitless supply of “Water” to tame that unruly “sand” around us. Not to change the essence of sand, but to create a temporary consistency—if the Living Water is present.
How might we do this? With:
- Faith—And He said to them . . . “Amen, I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20, TLV, Emphasis Mine)
- Prayer—“Therefore, pray in this way: ‘Our Father in heaven, sanctified be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . .” (Matthew 6:9, TLV, Emphasis Mine)
- Wisdom and Discernment—The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: to acquire wisdom and discipline, to understand the words of insight, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and fairness, to give discernment to the naïve, knowledge and discretion to the youth . . . (Proverbs 1:1-4, TLV, Emphasis Mine)
- Forgiveness—So confess your offenses to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. (James [Jacob] 5:16, TLV, Emphasis Mine)
- Love—If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1, TLV, Emphasis Mine)
Our Messiah’s Living Waters reside within us, and these Waters can either flow through us or sit dormant. If we notice the sand around us is not cooperating, perhaps we’ve stepped away from the Waters that will tame the situation and provide a highway to the Father and His Son.
When the Waters flow, amazing things happen—for others and us. The path will be smooth and stable.
It is hard work—if you’ve ever worked in construction or dug a ditch, you’ll understand. But witnessing the rebirth of a new child of GOD is beautiful and well worth the effort. Well worth the effort, yes?
