Before Jesus’ first coming there was a voice in the wilderness with a special mission - to make straight the way of the Lord. This voice was the prophet John the Baptist. He is a significant figure, since he represents the work which the last generation before the Second Coming of Christ will do. What was the mission of John?
- He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
What does it means to make straight the way of the Lord?
- The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
- Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
- And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
What is the meaning behind making every valley exalted, and lowering every mountain and hill, and strengthening crooked?
- That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
- Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
- Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
The Isaiah 40 is the contrast of Isaiah 30. In this contrast we may recognize what the meaning behind making the path straight. In chapter 40 the way is prepared for the Lord, when in chapter 30, the rebellious people are turning aside out of the path, causing the Holy One of Israel cease from them. How do they do that? They do not follow the visions of God’s prophets, and they do not want to hear the right prophesies, rather they want to hear smooth things.
Are these two groups present in our days?
Where are my daily actions and energies bent? Am I straightening the way of the Lord, or am I turning aside out of the path, causing Christ to cease before my eyes? Am I following the visions of God’s prophets, or I am looking at the prosperity in this world?
The context of the Isaiah 30 is about rebellious children of God, which take heed to the worldly strength of Egypt, rather trusting in God.
This marks a stark contrast between the two groups, the ones that are crooking the way, and the one that is straightening the way.
| Rebellious children of God | The faithful last generation |
|---|---|
| Actively working to cause Christ to cease from them | Actively working to hasten Christ return |
| Reject to consult God’s prophets | Desiring to know God’s will through God’s prophets |
| They desire to hear smooth, deceptive things only | They desire to be rebuked and give rebuke, in order to edify |
| Their trust is in the world and in its system | They trust God |
- Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
- But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ sope:
- And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
- The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
- The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
The imagery in Isaiah 40:3-5, where every valley is lifted up and every mountain is made low, signifies God preparing a clear, accessible path for His people. This passage foreshadows a time of deliverance, with physical landscapes symbolizing inner transformation and societal change, as well as the removal of obstacles that prevent people from encountering God. Here are some Bible references that elaborate on this theme of spiritual transformation, God’s leveling of power structures, and clearing obstacles for a divine purpose:
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Luke 3:4-6 – This passage directly quotes Isaiah 40:3-5 and applies it to the ministry of John the Baptist. John, as a forerunner of Jesus, calls people to repentance and prepares the way for the Messiah, highlighting the spiritual significance of Isaiah’s words as repentance “makes straight” the path to God.
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Malachi 3:1-3 – Malachi speaks of a messenger preparing the way, refining and purifying God’s people, similar to how valleys and hills are transformed to clear the way. This preparation is both physical and spiritual, symbolizing repentance and renewal.
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Psalm 97:5-6 – “The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD.” This portrays God’s overwhelming power to reshape creation, indicating that no obstacle can stand against His will, especially when bringing salvation to His people.
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Zechariah 4:7 – Zechariah sees obstacles flattened as God fulfills His purpose: “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain!” This reinforces the message that God removes hindrances in His people’s path.
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Philippians 2:5-11 – Paul describes how Jesus humbled Himself, bringing exaltation through humility. This passage reflects the valleys being lifted and the mountains being made low, underscoring God’s elevation of the humble and His humbling of the proud in His kingdom.
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Revelation 21:3-5 – Here, God prepares a new world where obstacles like pain, death, and sorrow are permanently removed. The vision resonates with Isaiah’s promise of a world transformed by God’s presence, where “all flesh shall see it together.”
These references illustrate how the language of transformation in Isaiah 40 echoes throughout the Bible, symbolizing God’s power to overcome all that hinders true communion with Him. The changes in the landscape metaphorically represent the changes God brings to the human heart and to society, leveling barriers, exalting the humble, and preparing a straight path for His presence.