God at Work
“Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! 4 Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. 5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together." Isaiah 40:3-5
This verse is one that sticks out for several reasons as one of the more significant promises to God's people in both the Old and New Testament. In Isaiah's days it was an interjection of hope to the exiles who were far from home. In Jesus' day it was fulfilled by John the baptist who promised that the coming Messiah was near.
What's unusual about this passage though is the idea of God answering his people in a very bizarre way by making a "highway through the wilderness". Who would build a highway in a wasteland and why? The wilderness is a place is a remote place with virtually no viable sign of life and a great place to die. Who would want to go there?
God would.
If you've ever found yourself in a wilderness with nowhere to turn, you're in luck. God is in the construction business and he knows exactly where you are. Like many construction companies, God is in no hurry when it comes to leveling mountains, digging out hills, and straightening out the rough places in our lives. What He does promise to do, however is "finish the good work He started in us" (Philippians 1:6). Sometimes that takes years to accomplish.
Many times we wait while God builds detours, closes lanes, shuts down traffic, and redirects our path in ways we never wanted or asked for in order to accomplish His purposes. After all, He did promise to "direct our paths if we trust Him with all our heart and not rely on our own understanding" (Prov. 3:5-6). He did promise to get us there, eventually, but He didn't promise that the route wouldn't come with delays, u-turns, and take much longer than we wanted it to.
As I drove to work down Hwy 75 this morning expecting the usual backup due to the construction that has gone on and on and on for the past several years I suddenly realized that there were now 4 lanes instead of 2 that seemed to magically appear overnight. No they didn't magically appear; they've been under construction for years and years but today, it was as if they said, "ok, it's done". Many hours of frustration and waiting are finally in the past. What was once a promise has become reality.
God's plan seems to work very much the same. He asks us to trust Him despite our failure to grasp all that he is doing simultaneously in the world to build a highway in places where His power, presence, and provision is desperately needed. Thankfully, He operates on His schedule and not ours and His promise of completion is guaranteed. When He does finish the work He started, the results are a testament to His wisdom, glory, and grace and well worth the struggle along the way.
Despite the wilderness all around you, be assured God is at work and His plans are sure. There will be delays, detours, and a few roadblocks that will be overwhelming, but He is faithful. "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished...." Philippians 1:6
@josh1eight
This verse is one that sticks out for several reasons as one of the more significant promises to God's people in both the Old and New Testament. In Isaiah's days it was an interjection of hope to the exiles who were far from home. In Jesus' day it was fulfilled by John the baptist who promised that the coming Messiah was near.
What's unusual about this passage though is the idea of God answering his people in a very bizarre way by making a "highway through the wilderness". Who would build a highway in a wasteland and why? The wilderness is a place is a remote place with virtually no viable sign of life and a great place to die. Who would want to go there?
God would.
If you've ever found yourself in a wilderness with nowhere to turn, you're in luck. God is in the construction business and he knows exactly where you are. Like many construction companies, God is in no hurry when it comes to leveling mountains, digging out hills, and straightening out the rough places in our lives. What He does promise to do, however is "finish the good work He started in us" (Philippians 1:6). Sometimes that takes years to accomplish.
Many times we wait while God builds detours, closes lanes, shuts down traffic, and redirects our path in ways we never wanted or asked for in order to accomplish His purposes. After all, He did promise to "direct our paths if we trust Him with all our heart and not rely on our own understanding" (Prov. 3:5-6). He did promise to get us there, eventually, but He didn't promise that the route wouldn't come with delays, u-turns, and take much longer than we wanted it to.
As I drove to work down Hwy 75 this morning expecting the usual backup due to the construction that has gone on and on and on for the past several years I suddenly realized that there were now 4 lanes instead of 2 that seemed to magically appear overnight. No they didn't magically appear; they've been under construction for years and years but today, it was as if they said, "ok, it's done". Many hours of frustration and waiting are finally in the past. What was once a promise has become reality.
God's plan seems to work very much the same. He asks us to trust Him despite our failure to grasp all that he is doing simultaneously in the world to build a highway in places where His power, presence, and provision is desperately needed. Thankfully, He operates on His schedule and not ours and His promise of completion is guaranteed. When He does finish the work He started, the results are a testament to His wisdom, glory, and grace and well worth the struggle along the way.
Despite the wilderness all around you, be assured God is at work and His plans are sure. There will be delays, detours, and a few roadblocks that will be overwhelming, but He is faithful. "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished...." Philippians 1:6
@josh1eight
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