Isaiah 40:1-5. God's words of comfort to Israel, even in the midst of their suffering. Though Isaiah, God says "Comfort, comfort my people," tell them their warfare is ended, their sins are forgiven. Israel has received double for her sins from the Lord. "A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord." God promises that the valleys will be lifted up and the mountains made low, the uneven ground shall become level, "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."

When we have suffered enough that we finally turn back to the Lord, he will make our way back very easy. As soon as start our way back to him, all obstacles are removed from our path - the uneven ground is made level, a straight path - a highway to our God - is made to lead us out of the desert of sin we find ourselves in. Not only that, but everyone will see it - "all flesh shall see it together." The path is for everyone - God wants us all to return to him. This is God's promise made through Isaiah and fulfilled in Jesus' first coming. John the Baptist proclaimed these very words from the wilderness to get people ready for Christ's revelation.

I think God is getting us ready again. He is reminding us of this promise to be fulfilled again at Christ's second coming. Prophets and saints are being raised up all around us, telling us the way back. Events, and the failure of human leadership, are forcing us to look for the truth, the true answer, a leader. The only leader worth following is Christ.

We are being called back, very strongly, to God. I hope we all hear it, feel it, and act on it. I hope we all see the straight path, the highway to God leading us out of our wilderness of sin.