No one loves like God loves.  We love because God first loved us.  To know real love is to know God. All other love is manmade, manipulated, conditional and reversable.  God’s love is unchanging, unconditional, relentless, and irreversible.  God rescues those loved by mankind alone and heals all hearts broken by selfish love and makes us whole again. 

Where hate becomes a dessert of dry sarcasm, hurt, gossip, mocking and manipulating, God rescues with the refreshing streams of grace, flowing into pools of mercy that pour into oceans of never-ending love. 

Where there is nothing growing but foolish, barren worldview thinking that leads to death, God rescues with life.  God gives life that grows and flowers beautifully.  God gives life that reproduces more life. God’s rescue is never-ending and forever for those who seek His rescue and believe in His Son who provides the Rescue.

When we could not sing because sin at a choke-hold on us, God rescued us with His Hand that removed it all.  “The voiceless now break into song” because our Deliverer, Savior and now Lord rescued us.

Isaiah 35, The Message

The Voiceless Break into Song

^1-2 Wilderness and desert will sing joyously,
    the badlands will celebrate and flower—
Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom,
    a symphony of song and color.
Mountain glories of Lebanon—a gift.
    Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon—gifts.
God’s resplendent glory, fully on display.
    God awesome, God majestic.

^3-4 Energize the limp hands,
    strengthen the rubbery knees.
Tell fearful souls,
    “Courage! Take heart!
God is here, right here,
    on his way to put things right
And redress all wrongs.
    He’s on his way! He’ll save you!”

^5-7 Blind eyes will be opened,
    deaf ears unstopped,
Lame men and women will leap like deer,
    the voiceless break into song.
Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness,
    streams flow in the desert.
Hot sands will become a cool oasis,
    thirsty ground a splashing fountain.
Even lowly jackals will have water to drink,
    and barren grasslands flourish richly.

^8-10 There will be a highway
    called the Holy Road.
No one rude or rebellious
    is permitted on this road.

It’s for God’s people exclusively—
    impossible to get lost on this road.
    Not even fools can get lost on it.
No lions on this road,
    no dangerous wild animals—
Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening.
    Only the redeemed will walk on it.
The people God has ransomed
    will come back on this road.
They’ll sing as they make their way home to Zion,
    unfading halos of joy encircling their heads,
Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness
    as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“God is on His way!,” Isaiah seems to shout.  God’s Rescue is His Son, Jesus who died to save us and lives today to help us remain rescued. 

Isaiah’s prophesy is beautifully encouraging!  The wilderness will not remain a wilderness because the Lord will transform the earth into a garden of Eden. All of nature eagerly looks for the coming of the Lord because nature knows that it will be set free from the curse of sin and share the glory of the kingdom.  God is on His way!

Isaiah used the promise of the coming kingdom to strengthen those in his day who were weak and afraid. The kingdom will have no blind or deaf, lame or dumb because all will be made whole to enjoy a glorious new world.  God is on His Way!

One of Isaiah’s favorite themes is The Highway. During the Assyrian invasion, highways were not safe, but during the kingdom age travel will be safe. The kingdom will have one special highway: “The Highway of Holiness.” Ancient cities often had special roads that only kings and priests could use, but when Messiah reigns, all of His people will be invited to use this highway. Isaiah pictures God’s redeemed, ransomed, and rejoicing Jewish families going up to the yearly festivals in Jerusalem, to praise their Lord. 

God is on His Way, are we on the right highway with Him?

The members of the faithful remnant were trusting God’s promises and praying for God’s help, and God answered their prayers. Centuries ago, God had kept His promises to His people and delivered them, so He will surely keep His promises in the future and establish His glorious kingdom for His chosen people.  God rescues us now!

Believe and be rescued and saved for life!

Lord,

May we the rescued praise you for all you have done, are doing and will do on our behalf. Thank you for loving us unconditionally the way you do.  Help us, the rescued, point the Way to Truth that leads to Life everlasting.  Lead us on the Highway to Holiness.  I am forever grateful for your rescue of me.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen