Saturday, April 2, 2016

Isaiah 35: What Restoration Looks Like

In contrast to chapter 34, Isaiah 35 describes a desert wilderness breaking into life.  This beautiful picture of restoration includes miraculous healings and a highway for the righteous.

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom" (vs. 1).  Just as life can be taken away from a land plunged into desolation, so can life be given to a wilderness through restoration.  God can do both things in His mighty power.  While the description here is of a physical landscape, God can accomplish the same things in a spiritual desert.  Where there has been no life previously, there can be through Him.

In verses 6 and 7, it appears that these blessings of the land stem from the outpouring of life-giving water: "For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes."  This passage reminds me of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4 when He talked about springs of living water gushing up to eternal life.  How we need the irrigation of God's Holy Spirit in order to have life within us!

What shall we see then?  "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy" (vs. 5-6).  Again, this sounds awfully familiar!  Such miraculous signs accompanied Jesus' ministry.  The living water of Christ satisfied the thirsty souls - and bodies - of the people He came across.

The good news continues in verses 8-10.  The prophet speaks of a highway for the redeemed.  Only the righteous will be able to tread this road that leads to Zion.  It is a straight path, and no dangers will be there to afflict the travelers.  "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (vs. 10).

This is what restoration looks like!

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