Go! And… Prepare the Way of the Lord - Isaiah 40:3
By Dean Courtier
Isaiah 40:3 (NLT): “Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, ‘Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!’”
Introduction: The Voice That Still Calls Today
In the days of Isaiah, the people of Judah were weary. They were exiled, broken, and spiritually adrift. They had heard of God’s promises but felt far from His presence. Into that spiritual wilderness came the thunderous voice of hope—“Prepare the way of the Lord!”
That same voice echoes through time and speaks to us today. In a world filled with moral deserts and spiritual wastelands, the call remains the same: “Prepare the way for the Lord.”
Before revival ever sweeps a nation, before renewal transforms a heart, there must first be preparation. There must be repentance. There must be a clearing of the way—for Jesus, our Saviour and King, is coming into the hearts of those who make room for Him.
1. The Prophetic Context: A Promise in the Wilderness
Isaiah 40 marks a shift in the tone of Isaiah’s prophecy—from judgment to comfort. After thirty-nine chapters of warning, we hear God’s voice of consolation:
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. (Isaiah 40:1 NLT)
The wilderness here was both literal and symbolic. Historically, the Israelites would soon face exile in Babylon, surrounded by idolatry and despair. Spiritually, the wilderness represented their separation from God due to sin.
In Hebrew, the word “midbar” (????????)—translated “wilderness”—refers not only to a barren place, but also to a place of dependence, where one must rely entirely on God. The wilderness is where human self-sufficiency dies, and divine sufficiency begins.
It is no coincidence that John the Baptist—the forerunner of Christ—would later appear in the literal wilderness proclaiming this very verse, fulfilling it in Matthew 3:3 (NLT):
“The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
‘He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!”’”
Malachi 3:1 (NLT): “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple.”
Malachi reinforces Isaiah’s message, showing God’s plan to send a messenger—fulfilled in John the Baptist—who would prepare the way for the Messiah. The Hebrew word “mal’ak” (????????) means both “messenger” and “angel,” highlighting that this was a divine appointment, not a human initiative.
Just as John prepared the way for Jesus’ first coming, we, as Christ’s followers, are called to prepare hearts for His second coming—by proclaiming the Gospel and living holy lives.
John Piper once said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
When we make room for Christ, when our satisfaction is rooted in Him, we clear the spiritual clutter that blocks His glory from being seen in our lives.
2. The Highway of Holiness: Making Straight the Path
The prophet commands: “Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God.”
In ancient times, when a king planned to visit a region, workers would go ahead to level roads, fill potholes, and remove obstacles so the king’s journey would be smooth.
Spiritually speaking, God’s highway is built in the heart. Sin, pride, bitterness, and rebellion are the crooked roads and rough terrain that hinder His presence. The call to “make straight” is a call to repentance.
Luke 3:4–6 (NLT): “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.”
The Greek word for “prepare” in Luke 3:4 is “hetoimazo” (?t??µ???), meaning to make ready or to make fit. It conveys intentional effort. Preparation requires work—it is a conscious act of surrender.
Are there obstacles in your heart today that block the King’s way? Perhaps unforgiveness, secret sin, or spiritual apathy. The Lord cannot travel on a road littered with pride. He seeks a straight path of humility, repentance, and faith.
Charles Stanley once said, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”
True preparation means trusting God enough to obey Him—even when it costs us comfort, reputation, or control.
3. The Voice Still Cries Out: Repentance Is the Gateway to Revival
John’s cry was not a gentle whisper—it was a shout of urgency: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” (Matthew 3:2 NLT).
Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for sin; it is turning from it. The Greek word “metanoeo” (µeta????) means to change one’s mind and direction. It is a 180-degree turn—from sin to God, from darkness to light, from self to Christ.
Acts 3:19 (NLT): “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”
Peter preached this after the healing of the lame man at the Temple gate. The miracle confirmed the message: repentance brings spiritual restoration. Just as the man’s legs were made strong, so repentance strengthens the soul.
Repentance clears the debris of guilt and shame, allowing the King to enter freely. Revival begins not in public meetings, but in private confession.
Tim Keller wrote, “Repentance is not less than sorrow for sin, but it is more—it is a change of mind that leads to a change of life.”
Keller reminds us that repentance is transformation, not a transaction. It’s not about bargaining with God—it’s about being born again through Jesus Christ.
The Roadbuilder
Imagine a road crew sent ahead of a royal convoy. They dig out rocks, fill potholes, and lay down new tarmac so the king’s carriage will not be hindered.
That’s what the Holy Spirit does in your heart. He removes the rocks of rebellion and the potholes of pride. But He waits for your cooperation. You must hand Him the shovel of surrender and say, “Lord, prepare my heart.”
4. The Gospel in Isaiah’s Cry
Isaiah 40:3 points directly to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The way prepared in the wilderness was for the coming of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29 NLT).
Jesus came into our wilderness—our broken, barren, sin-stained world—to make a way to the Father. Through His death on the cross, He cleared the path that sin had blocked. Through His resurrection, He opened a highway of holiness leading to eternal life.
John 14:6 (NLT): “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”
The highway Isaiah foresaw was not a literal road—it was a person. Jesus is the Way! There is no other route to God, no alternate path, no spiritual bypass.
R.T. Kendall once said, “The greatest miracle that can happen to any human being is to be born again.”
Kendall captures the truth that all spiritual preparation finds its fulfilment in the new birth—the transformation that only the Gospel brings.
The Bridge of Grace
A man once fell into a deep ravine. The gap between him and safety was impossible to cross. Others shouted advice from the edge—religion, philosophy, morality—but none could reach him. Then a rescuer arrived, laid down a plank, and stretched out His hand.
That rescuer is Jesus. The plank is the cross. The hand is grace. And the call is simple: “Come to Me.”
5. The Call to Action: Go! And Prepare the Way
The “Go! And…” series reminds us that our faith is active. We are not called to stand still—we are called to go and make disciples, go and proclaim the Gospel, go and prepare the way for the Lord’s return.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT): “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’”
We prepare the way for others when our lives echo the message of Isaiah and John—when we live holy lives that make Jesus visible to a watching world. Every act of kindness, every word of truth, every prayer of intercession paves a little more of that highway.
Max Lucado wrote, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
Our mission is not to make people more religious—it’s to point them to the transforming love of Jesus, who alone changes hearts.
The Gospel Invitation:
Friend, the King is coming. He is not far away. The voice still cries, “Prepare the way of the Lord!”
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into this world, lived a sinless life, and died upon the cross for your sins. He was buried, and on the third day, He rose from the grave—defeating death, hell, and the grave forever.
He is the Highway to Heaven. He is the Way to the Father.
If you will repent of your sin and trust in Him as your Lord and Saviour, He will forgive you, cleanse you, and make your heart His dwelling place.
Do not delay. The King is coming soon. Prepare the way—let Him in.
Benediction:
May the Lord clear the wilderness of your heart,
level every mountain of pride,
fill every valley of despair,
and make straight your path,
that you might walk daily in His presence,
and prepare others for His glorious return.
Amen.
