Where do you expect to find God? What earthly location would God visit?
The prophet Isaiah gives us a surprising answer. The first 39 chapters of Isaiah focus on divine judgment, but chapter 40 begins with these words: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem” (vv.1-2a). Why? Because the time of judgment is over. “Cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned” (v. 2).
And then come the intriguing words of verse 3: “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God'” (ESV).
Of all places why is God going to travel through a lonely and desolate wilderness? Nothing is happening in the wilderness—at least nothing of any human significance. No speeches or concerts. No professional sports or art galleries. No homes or schools. No electricity or cell phone signals. Just vegetation and animals untouched by human activity.
Why do we have to make a highway for God in an untamed habitat? Wouldn’t it be better for us to prepare a path for God in a megacity?
Listen to the voice crying out again: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
God does not see things as we do. He doesn’t need our red carpet and flashing lights. He’s not interested in putting on a show and making a big splash.
For this reason Mark’s Gospel says,
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. . . At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. . . At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (1:4-13 NIV)
It’s counterintuitive, paradoxical, strange. And yet it makes sense. If God came into the world with signs of glitz and glamour, he would be saying, “Look at me, I’m great because I meet your standards.” In that way, he would be placing his seal of approval on our shallow systems of judgment.
So he enters a different way. He visits a remote location.
What does this mean for us?
We shouldn’t be mesmerized by the lights of the big city and miss the wonders of the wilderness. Let’s make it personal: Don’t overlook the barren and empty places of your life. In fact, in those places prepare a path for the LORD. He is coming to visit your wilderness and when he does things will be different.
“O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain” (Ps. 68:7-8a ESV).
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. My latest book focuses on Paul’s work as a tentmaker and what it means for today.