Road Trip Series

Isaiah 35: 1 – 10

Road Trip

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; 2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the excellency of our God.3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. 7 The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, there shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Now if you have been studying all along with us, then you will easily understand that this small chapter stands in obvious contrast to our previous chapter. In chapter 34 we have come to see the dreadful consequences that will come upon Esau and his descendents. Yet, we will see in the case of Jacob and his descendents [Israel] our Holy Jehovah Elyon’s, The Lord Most High’s Grace.

Edom was destined to be wiped out with seaming pitch and brimstone while we will see the desert bloom like a rose. The land will flourish in such unique ways that it will be evident to all the world that its curse is over.

We see at the start of this chapter the revelation of God’s Glory.

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; 2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the excellency of our God.

Please take note that this promise is not some pretty tale but will actually happen. If we are around then we will actually see it. To some extent this is already happening – ‘The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; 2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the Excellency of our God.’

Remember Moses when he asked to see God’s Glory. That is a nice word but what does it really mean? It means to know fully Who He really Is. This should be all our desires. And what about the word ‘Excellency’? This is His outward acts that assures us that we have His favor and blessings. Hasn’t this ever been your prayer to be re-assured of His Victory in your life?

3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”

We sing to the kids in Sunday School, ‘Knees and shoulders, toes and hands. In love our Great El Shaddai is singing us His assurance of knees and hands – ‘3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.’

Like the Israelites our God will do what He has said. He has said that vengeance belongs solely to Him. He will repay the evil to others that they have done to us - 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” He Is faithful to save to the uttermost all of us who have placed their trust in Him.