OLD TESTAMENT

– A narrative on Isaiah 40:1–11

PICTURE two remote towns in a hilly area with only a footpath between them. Laying aside any conservation concerns, imagine the earthmovers carving a swathe through the hillside. You are building a road.

In ancient times there were only footpaths or sheep tracks outside the towns. The main caravan routes were only trodden-down earth. If a king or army wanted to get somewhere quickly, a battalion of engineers was sent ahead to clear the path of obstacles, bridge the worst ravines with rubble, lessen the steepest gradients, and tread down the path to reduce the risks of tripping.

The context of this prophecy is the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon. They faced a 900-mile trek on foot. They could not build roads, but they still had to prepare for such an arduous journey. It provided the prophet with a timeless image.

It was applied in the New Testament to the ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1–3). It can be further applied to any Christian’s witness. There are boulders of prejudice and stumbling-blocks of ignorance to clear away; there are rifts in relationships to bridge, and steep uphill paths we must travel to win people’s confidence and respect.

Preparatory work is boring, as anyone who has wallpapered or painted a room will know. Stripping off the old layers is hard but essential work. If we want people to meet God, we have to prepare them to recognise and welcome him.