Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Isaiah 49:10-12 (NIV)
“They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar—some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan.”
Isaiah 49:10-12 (MSG)
“Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty, shade from the sun, shelter from the wind, for the Compassionate One guides them, takes them to the best springs. I’ll make all my mountains into roads, turn them into a superhighway. Look: These coming from far countries, and those, out of the north, these streaming in from the west, and those from all the way down the Nile!”
*******************************
“They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; for He who has compassion on them will lead them, and He will guide them to springs of water. And I will make all My mountains a roadway, and My highways will be raised. In fact, these will come from far away; and, lo, these shall come from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Aswan (southern Egypt).” -AMPLIFIED
“For He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them: In an immediate sense, this refers to God’s supply and sustaining of the exiles returning from Babylon to Judah, through the unseen hand of the Messiah. In the larger sense, it speaks of mercy and the provision of God for people as they return to Him in the last days, as they shall come from afar.” ~David Guzik
Yesterday’s text reminded us of God’s faithfulness, as well as reminded us that nothing is impossible with God. He is able to do more than we could ever ask or think. We found God extending His help and protection to the Messiah.
“Yahweh says: “When the time of showing you favor has come,
I will answer your heart’s cry. I will help you in the day of salvation,
for I have fixed my eyes on you. I have made you a covenant people to restore the land
and to resettle families on forgotten inheritances. You will declare to prisoners, ‘You’re free!’
and to those in darkness, ‘Step out into the light!’ They will be like sheep that graze beside the roads
and find pasture on the barren hillside.” -Isaiah 49:8-9 (The Passion Translation)
In this chapter we have seen the Messiah recognized as The Light, and a Covenant to His people. The Messiah was not just bringing a covenant to His people, He was the Covenant. Jesus Himself spoke of His mission to Nicodemus in this way:
“No one has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, the Son of Man [Himself—whose home is in heaven]. Just as Moses lifted up the [bronze] serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever]. For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].” -John 3:13-18 (AMP)
In today’s passage we find what God will do for those who accept God’s offered Covenant.
“Wherever they are, they will be fine, never hungry nor thirsty. They will be protected from oppressive heat and the burning sun because the One who loves them—as a mother loves her child—will be their guide. God will lead them to restful places, rejuvenating springs of water. I will make their going easy, level the mountain road and smooth the path that leads them home. Look! Even now, they are coming from lands far away, some from the north, others from the west, these from the land of Sinim.” -(VOICE)
God has mercy on those who are in need. Consider, in yesterday’s text the prisoner was set free, and those in darkness were led into the Light. In today’s passage we see are told that these people who accept God’s Covenant will never be hungry, or thirsty. We are told that the scorching sun and the desert winds will bring them no harm. That God, the loving Father, will lead them in His mercy, beside renewing streams of water. (Sound familiar? See Ps. 23)
Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, promises that through The Covenant the journey will be easier. For He will “level all my mountains as a road for them and raise up my highways.” -(TPT) God, in His great mercy, has taken the initiative to help His children return home.
“They shall neither hunger nor thirst; the searing sun and scorching desert winds will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in his mercy will lead them beside the cool waters. And I will make my mountains into level paths for them; the highways shall be raised above the valleys. See, my people shall return from far away, from north and west and south.” -(TLB)
“He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him alright.” ~Blaise Pascal
This passage in Isaiah is similar to a passage found in the book of Revelation. There, in John’s testimony of his vision of Heaven, we find John having a conversation with one of the Elders who sat around the throne.
“One of the Elders (to me): Who are these people clothed in white robes, and where have they come from? John: Sir, surely you know the answer to your own questions. One of the Elders: These are coming from the time of great suffering and affliction. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, cleansing them pure white. Responding out of a heart filled with praise, they congregate before the throne of God and constantly worship Him day and night in His temple. The One seated on the throne will always live among them. They will never be hungry or thirsty again. The sun or blazing heat will never scorch them, Because the Lamb who stands at the center of the throne is their shepherd and they are His sheep, and He will lead them to the water of life. And God will dry every tear from their eyes.” -Revelation 7:13-17 (VOICE)
If you ever doubted for a moment that God’s intentions towards those He loves is for good, consider that God has promised to leave you or forsake you. NEVER! Remember this promise that Jesus, The Covenant, gave to His followers before His ascension:
“…lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:20 (AMP)
“In the infinite wisdom of the Lord of all the earth, each event falls with exact precision into its proper place in the unfolding of His divine plan. Nothing, however small, however strange, occurs without His ordering or without its particular fitness for its place in the working out of His purpose; and the end of all shall be the manifestation of His glory, and the accumulation of His praise.” ~ B.B. Warfield
My friend, trust in the One who knows you best. He has promised that He will never leave you, or forsake you. He has promised to provide for your ever need, to protect you, to lead and guide you. He is your ever-present help in time of trouble. Trust His mercy. Trust in Him.
“Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God’s ordering and permission. There is no such thing as “chance,” “luck” or “accident” in the Christian’s journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God. And all things are “working together” for the believer’s good.” ~J. C. Ryle
My Prayer:
Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, your Word is full of so many promises, and reminders that you are a God of mercy and love. Your promise to be my constant companion fills my heart with peace and comfort. Knowing I never have to face any situation alone gives me strength to press on in the challenges of this life. Also, knowing that someday I will be spending an eternity with you, makes the challenges of this life seem so small. The reward in the end will be worth it all, Lord. Thank you for your grace, your mercy, and your love. Thank you for your providence. I know it will be worth it all when I see Jesus.
Growing with God 