A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5
In Isaiah 40, three “voices” are commissioned by God to herald the coming of the Lord’s comfort, salvation, and glory. Here, we are introduced to the first voice, with a dramatic, suspense-building, call to attention,
“A voice cries.”
There’s almost a hush that falls over the reader. A pause, as we lean in to listen. As if he’s saying, “Listen, someone is calling out.” And what the voice cries is this, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3),
This is a big announcement, one that causes a hush to fall over the entire earth—and beckons it to be transformed at the coming of the LORD.
The LORD himself is coming. And this is a call to prepare the way! But the preparations are not to be made in a prestigious palace where we might expect—but rather in the wilderness. A wild, unruly land, uncultivated and uncivilized. It is precisely here where his way is to be prepared,
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)
In the midst of the desert—a dry, thirsty, rugged terrain, somewhere difficult to travel–will run a highway for our God.
Our God himself is coming.
Have you ever seen them roll out the red carpet for a celebrity? Or at a wedding, when they spread a white runner over the aisle right before the bride walks down? This is something like that. A special preparation for someone set-apart will tread. But unlike a wedding where the bride walks down the aisle to meet her groom—the LORD’s bride does not move towards him, but rather he comes to her. In a place that appears impossible to travel.
It is right here in this impossible place, in the wilderness, a voice cries,
“Prepare the way for the LORD.”
A Way in the Wilderness
In Isaiah’s time, people would construct processional ways for visiting dignitaries or their “gods” as they were carried in procession. But here is something altogether different. Unlike a false god, being carted around like a parade float—a cry has gone out that the living God is coming to visit his people.
Therefore,
“Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.”
(Isaiah 40:4)
Why are valleys being lifted and mountains bending low? Why is rugged ground suddenly becoming smooth and flat? There is a purpose: It is to prepare the way, to clear the way, for his coming. This is a picture of a highway cutting through the wilderness, or desert. Land that would have been rugged, uncultivated, and difficult to travel now has a “straight” road going through it, a highway for our God.
He is removing every obstacle, every hindrance in order to bring the comfort and salvation he promised his people (Isa. 40:1-2). And now, in response to his promise comes a cry of expectation, preparation, and world-wide transformation.
There will be a path, where there’s never been a path. There will be a way, where there’s never been a way. Right in the place where it is most unexpected, and appears most impossible—in the wilderness.
We have a God who will level mountains, and raise valleys, and smooth every rugged place to come for his people. Of this we can be sure, “He will arrive without fail, travel without difficulty and be undelayed by hindrances.”
He cannot and will not be stopped, thwarted, tripped up, or re-routed. He won’t be outmanuevered, or outrun, or outsmarted by any who would oppose him (Mat. 2:13).
He will surely come. He will come to the wilderness. And when he does, every eye will see it.
The Glory Revealed
Not only is the Lord clearing the way for his coming—but so that the entire earth can see his glory. Because when every valley rises, and every mountain falls, and the whole earth becomes level. It is so that nothing can obstruct or hinder the view of his glory.
“And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together,
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:5
He is clearing away every obstacle so that his glory is on full display.
“And all flesh shall see it together.”
This is literally every person, all flesh, will see it. But not only will they see it, they will experience it. The word for “see” here doesn’t simply mean to take notice of, or observe, it means to fully experience.
Have you ever seen a waterfall? Perhaps, you’ve hiked to a waterfall and heard the majestic roar of its waters cascading down upon the rocks. You know then, what it is like to see a waterfall. But have you ever stood underneath a waterfall? In the shockingly cold water, being pummeled by its violent force until it stings your head and drenches you until you’ve nearly fallen over? That’s experiencing a waterfall.
So here, all flesh will not merely see, but experience, the glory of the LORD. That is, he will uncloak himself to reveal the weight of his glory, the radiance of his appearance, and the beauty of his holiness.
This is his promise,
“For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:5)
Whatever the LORD speaks happens. It happens with the “exact transmission on earth of what he has said in heaven.” But here, we get to see with our very own eyes the fulfillment of Isaiah 40 in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Behold, the Lamb
Some prophecies can be confusing, like a mystery wrapped in a riddle, leaving us wondering what they mean or if they ever came true. However, this particular prophecy is one that is fulfilled with stunning clarity as it is quoted verbatim in every single gospel account (see Matt. 3:1-3, Matt. 3:1-3, Mark 1:1-4, Luke 3:3-6, and John 1:23).
Matthew writes,
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
(Matthew 3:1-3, emphasis added)
Likewise, when the Pharisees were interogating John the Baptist about who he was, he answered them:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
(John 1:23)
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,” was fulfilled in a real person, John the Baptist as he cried out in the real wilderness of Judea. “This is he,” whom Isaiah spoke of, who would prepare the way of the LORD, and make his paths straight. He was the forerunner, the one who would prepare a highway for our God.
John came as the friend of the Bridegroom, preparing the aisle for him, rejoicing in his return for his Bride (John 3:29). He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). So that the glory of the LORD would be revealed in the coming of Jesus Christ—coming for his Bride.
And this is where the glory of the Lord was most clearly displayed: when Jesus was lifted up on the cross. It was there, as he was willingly lifted up, bearing the punishment for our sins that the glory of God was put on full display. This is where he most visibly showed us the love of God—on the cross, as the Son of God layed down his life for us. And all flesh could see it. And nothing could hinder the view of his glory. And whoever looks to him will be saved (John 3:14).
This is the glory of our God—a glory that is high, but makes himself low, a God who pours himself out for his people, who comes toward his bride, who finds her in the wilderness and carries her back, “So that whoever believes in him, shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
John made himself low, for Jesus to be lifted high. For it was Jesus of whom John cried, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). And it was for Jesus for whom he cried, “Prepare the way of the LORD.” And it is for Jesus—that still mountains fall low, and valleys are raised up. It is for Jesus that he made a way—in the wilderness. A highway for our God. So that Jesus, the Bridegroom, could come running down the aisle to his Bride, to comfort and console her, and carry her home, to give her eternal life in him, forever (John 3:16).
And this is what he came to offer you. His highway has been cleared for you. He went to the cross for you. So that you could lift your eyes upon him, your Saviour King, and for he will husband you forever. And he invites you to come to him, to cry to him, to look to him. For, “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Psalm 34:5).
He came for you, and he is coming back for you. And when he comes again, his appearance will be so glorious and radiant that it will be unmistakable, unavoidable and impossible to miss. “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt. 24:17). For, “Every eye will see him” (Rev. 1:7). And no one will be able to look away. For in that day, we won’t be simply hearing the waterfall from a distance, nor looking at the waterfall from far away—we’ll be standing underneath it. And we, and the whole earth will be drenched in the glory of Jesus, King of Kings and LORD of Lords.
The One for whom,
“A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.”
As we watch, and as we wait in the wilderness of our world today, may we too lift our voices to cry, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” For he who was faithful to come, will come again, just as he promised. And so we cry, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” (Rev. 22:17)
