Reading
SAA Notes
This word of comfort reminds us of two things – the Bible stands forever and will never disappear; our God is an awesome God. Do you see and feel that?
SJA Notes
* Dear God, please aright our hearts today as we read Your word.
“A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'”
Isaiah’s words here can be seen born out in John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus (we can read John’s words in Mark 1, Luke 3 and John 1).
This man, who baptised people in the desert outside the cities where people would flock to hear him – He was a voice, preparing the way of the Lord in the wilderness.
John was an evangelist, pointing people to Jesus.
It is interesting that the location Isaiah references is the wilderness, the desert.
We might think of those places as limited in life, not much growth.
Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land was one through the wilderness, trudging across deserts.
We read another prophet’s words, in Jeremiah 2, of Israel missing opportunities,
“They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, …'”
God led Israel through the wilderness after rescuing them out of Egypt. Jeremiah chastised them for not preparing the way of the LORD.
For us today, the Lord has rescued us out of sin and placed us on the narrow way that leads to life.
So the words of Isaiah, of Jeremiah, of John the Baptists – These words are from God, for us.
Are we pointing people to Jesus?
Are we telling people about the one who makes the crooked straight and brings life to the dead barren wilderness heart?
* Father God,
You made us. You saved us. You draw us onwards toward glory.
Please help us to tell those around us of Your great love, to give You the glory.
Amen.