Proper 18: Old Testament, Isaiah 35:4-7a                                     

Isaiah 35:4-7a

One of the great treasures of being a child of the Living God through faith, is the growing realization in our lives, that God is always moving towards us. God creates and sustains, He stands and watches as the first family falls into sin. And somewhat counterintuitively, He walks toward the sinful couple, not away from them. God continues that pattern all the way through the Bible. And it culminates in God coming to us in the New Jerusalem out of heaven. Remember, God’s final address will be an earthly one, and yes He will come to His people as He has always done.

In our reading today, the people of Israel are in exile and Isaiah is speaking a word of hopefulness and security to those who will return. The first word today is this: “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you’” (Isaiah 35:4). Save indeed.

The passage continues describing that salvation in real-life stuff like healings for the blind and deaf, and repair for tongues and toes. All these classically mark the ministry of the Messiah for whom Isaiah and his hearers anxiously await. It is a beautiful passage specifically because it points not just to relief and renewal, but also to the source of those blessings.

God always comes to His children. Always. And since He wants to be near to us, let’s draw near to Him, not letting anything or anyone compete with the God who will not stay away.