A Way in the Wilderness

The immediate context of this verse is God promising through the prophet Isaiah to deliver his people from Babylon.  In the verses prior to verse 19 God says, “Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick;  ‘Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing;  now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.’” Isaiah 43:16-19.

As amazing as crossing of the Red Sea was, God says to not even remember the former things.  This new deliverance would be even bigger and better than the former.  God would bring his people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and reinhabit towns such as Bethlehem and Nazareth.  By delivering His people from Babylon, he was setting the stage for the greatest deliverance of all time.  That would, of course, happen when He sent His  Son to suffer and die to atone for the sins of all people of all time.

This great deliverance is the “way” that he makes in our wilderness.  Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6  He not only is the way, he is the guide.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.   In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

This great deliverance is also the river to quench our thirsty souls as they travel through the desert of this world.  “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14  It’s amazing how reviving it is to spend some time in the Word.  And I notice that when I neglect daily study of His Word, I get bogged down with life and get anxious and frazzled.  We need to be reminded daily of God’s amazing deliverance, love, and promises to us sinners. 

So, what is your wilderness?  Lean on God. “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7.  Pray for his strength.  “Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you shall glorify me” Psalm 50:15.  Dive into the Word.  “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”  Romans 15:4.  He has already made a way for you through the wilderness of this world through His Son, and he will continue to guide you to the end.  “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” Matthew 28:20.

If you want the memory verse sticker for this devotion, shop here.

This passage was actually brought to my attention by a gorgeous fabric from Waymaker Fabrics.  I really enjoyed diving into the study of this passage and felt inspired to make a bag from the fabric based on this verse.  The bag can be carried around as a constant reminder of God’s guiding hand.