The Desert Shall Blossom Abundantly
December 14 | Rick Thiemke
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Isaiah 35:1-10
The Ransomed Shall Return
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2 it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 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.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
We live in a world that is constantly groaning under the weight of human sin. When Adam fell into sin in the garden of Eden, God cursed the garden and the whole earth. The garden that once bloomed in magnificent glory soon shriveled into thorns and thistles.
God in His goodness allowed a great deal of beauty to survive, but the transformation of the earth from a lush garden to a cursed desert is part of His just penalty for human sin. Romans 8:19-23 makes it clear that creation is groaning under this curse every single moment - locked in bondage to decay. Isaiah describes this corruption as a fertile field that has been turned into a wasteland.
Today’s prophecy contains a blossoming desert.
The Wild Promise Of Redemption
Isaiah describes the result of the coming Christ-like streams in the desert, waters breaking forth and the desert blooming abundantly and rejoicing and singing (verses 1-2a). The desert is bursting forth with joy! Burning sand is cooled by pools of life-giving water (verse 7a). This is a wild promise of redemption!
The rejoicing desert is only one of the many impossible promises fulfilled by Jesus - the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame dance and the silent speak (verses 5-6)! Every single human will function as God intended in creation and joy will fill their hearts as they look at the universe similarly redeemed from the curse - water flowing where there once was desert.
The coming of Jesus changed the cursed universe (verse 4). God will ultimately restore the cursed universe and suffering humanity to their original purposes by what was accomplished in Jesus Christ.
The work of Jesus in our lives today is a foretaste of His Kingdom that is here, but will only be fully realized in His second Advent. This future reality can break into our lives today and streams of life will flow through us (John 7:37-39a).
Advent Is All About Movement
Advent is not only about God’s movement toward us, like a heaven sent rain that can make even the bleakest landscape blossom. Advent is also about our movement toward God. Isaiah doesn’t describe a stationary picture of redemption, but a highway (verse 8). This isn’t just a path, it’s a highway. This is the Holy Way of salvation. It is a parade route of praise on which all those redeemed joyfully travel (verse 10).
When you find the Holy Way - believing in Jesus who came to redeem His creation - start walking and keep walking. Follow the ways of Jesus. You can trust you will be led by His Spirit on the pathway that has been carved out for you. Sing and praise Him in the desert knowing that streams are coming! Your destination? Zion - the city of God that is always used to describe the place where God and man dwell together.
James 5:7-10 gives us good instruction as we navigate the deserts of our lives waiting for Jesus to renew and restore all things.
Discussion Questions
Where do you most resonate with the imagery of a “desert” in this season of your life, and how does Isaiah 35 offer hope in that place?
How have you experienced small “blossoms” of God’s renewal or joy even before circumstances changed?
Isaiah speaks of a “Holy Way” that God’s people walk. What does it look like to keep moving toward Jesus when life still feels dry or uncertain?