Quite a few years ago I had the opportunity to travel through the southwestern part of the U.S., through the hot and vast desert there in Arizona and New Mexico. The hot and harsh environment in that part of the country isn’t conducive for too many plants, other than varieties of cactus. When one pictures in their mind a desert or wilderness, one doesn’t think of a place with a lot of color, usually just various shades of tan, beige, and gray. However, if it is just the right time of year, and the right amount of rain falls at that time, those grayish green cacti will blossom and bloom into some of the most spectacular colors. Vibrant hues of pink, orange, blue, and yellow will paint the once dull landscape. Our Old Testament Scripture for this Third Sunday of Advent comes from the prophet Isaiah, and speaks of such a time coming for the children of God.
Scattered throughout the world are desert and wilderness areas, including in the Holy Land. Travel through those areas can be hazardous if one isn’t prepared, and not too many people choose to live in or near the wilderness or desert. The southern part of Judah, and east of the Jordan River by the Dead Sea contain such landscape Now picture in your mind just the opposite of those deserts and wilderness. Picture lush and fertile fields, where crops grow in abundance, and where gardens thrive. Galilee, the coastal areas by the Mediterranean, and up through Lebanon are such areas. As we read through our Scripture, Isaiah speaks of a day when the wilderness and desert will become as lush and fertile as Carmel, Sharon, and Lebanon along the coasts of the Mediterranean (vs. 1-2). The dry and dusty landscape will have life-giving pools of water throughout them (vs. 6-7).
Isaiah speaks not only of this change that God will bring for His children, but also of a day when the blind will see and the deaf will hear again. Those who cannot speak will sing forth, and the lame will walk and leap again. The weak and feeble will be strengthened (vs. 3-6). This was a day that the people in his time would look forward to, as any one of these afflictions could mean a lifetime of begging and poverty. Even today with modern medicine, these afflictions make life more difficult, and we seek for cures.
When the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ came, He brought healing to folks with each of these afflictions, the blind, deaf, mute, and lame. Even more importantly, He calls for those who are spiritually blind, for those who have not heard His message of salvation, for those who are in a sense spiritually lame to turn to Him for redemption. When they turn to the Lord Jesus, finding salvation, they will then be able to dance and sing His praises (vs. 6).
We also see in our Scripture mention of a highway, which God has named the Highway of Holiness (vs. 8-10). This highway is found only by following God, as the unclean or sinful cannot travel upon it. It is only for believers in the Lord Jesus. Those who do much traveling know of the dangers that one can encounter, both today, and especially back in Biblical times. There are criminals all around to take advantage of others, who might harm or even kill the traveler. If one is camping, or traveling through desolate areas, one can encounter dangerous animals. However, on this highway, those who have put their trust in the Lord can know that He will protect us from any danger. God has prepared a way for His people to travel to His home. Jesus doesn’t just point the way there, He walks with us.
This message from Isaiah is a picture of God’s final kingdom, where He establishes His justice, and destroys all evil. This is the world that believers can anticipate coming when the Lord Jesus returns. We look around today and see a world that is falling apart, both morally, spiritually, and physically. When Jesus returns, all will be set right and good. The deserts will blossom like the rose, and the weak and crippled will be made whole. All creation will rejoice in God.
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