Bible Studies
A Roadway In the Wilderness; Rivers In the Desert (Isa. 43:14-21)
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. The Lord is always on the side of His people to deliver them from calamity, to bring them out of slavery, and to redeem them from the pit. 2. This is a message that is made clear in Isa. 43:14-21.a. The Lord presents Himself as the Redeemer of Israel, the Creator of the nation and their King.
b. Even though they are oppressed by Babylon the Lord will open a path for them.
c. He describes it in graphic language as “a roadway in the wilderness” and “rivers in the desert” to give drink to His people.
3. Reading of the text.Discussion:
I. The background and context of Isa. 43.A. Isaiah is dated during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (Isa. 1:1).
1. These were troublous times in Israel’s history.
2. During this period the northern kingdom fell and was taken captive by Assyria.
3. The southern kingdom (Judah) was heavily attacked.
4. Isaiah lived to see the menace of Assyria wane, but conditions in Judah would lead them into Babylonian captivity.
a. Idolatry was widespread.
b. The Assyrian threat was so intense that Sennacherib said he besieged Jerusalem and pinned Hezekiah “like a caged bird in Jerusalem the royal city.”
c. King Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Israel formed an alliance against Judah an attempted to overthrow Ahaz and seat their own puppet on the throne. Although their attempt was unsuccessful they did much damage.
d. Babylon was an international force and a rising military power. Judah would be overpowered by Babylon and taken captive.
B. Isaiah’s message had the effect of hardening the hearts of the people (6:10).
1. God’s intent was to bring healing to them.
2. His was a message of hope and deliverance for those who would hear it, but they would not.
3. And so Assyria and Babylon would be God’s instruments to bring His people to repentance. Not because He wanted them to experience calamity, but because such was the natural consequence of their decisions.
C. Isa. 43 is very clear on God’s attitude of love and graciousness toward them (1-7).
1. He promised them redemption from the Babylonians (14).
2. He would extinguish the Babylonians like a wick (17).
3. He would not forget His people, but He would wipe out their transgressions and redeem them (Isa. 44:21-23).
II. This was not a new message for God had always been of such disposition toward Israel.A. Had this not been the message from Egypt? Cf. Isa. 43:3.
B. Had God not seen their affliction at the hands of the Egyptians and acted mightily to deliver them?
C. The image of deliverance from Babylon is carried over into the message of the Book of Revelation (Rev. 17-18) in the descriptions if the final victory of God’s people.
1. There Babylon is fallen (18:1ff).
2. And the Lamb is victorious (17:14) and the people rejoice because God has pronounced judgment for them against her enemies (18:20).
D. This message is the same for us (2 Thess. 1:3ff). God is redeemer. He delivers His people. Though they have sinned He forgives. He makes a roadway in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
III. “But,” someone may object, “I know God delivers His people (as a group), but what about me? Will God deliver me?”A. God delivers individuals.
1. Joseph.
a. Sold into slavery as a youth by his brothers.
b. “The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man” (Gen. 39:2).
c. Imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
d. “But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailor” (Gen. 39:21).
e. Interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams by the power of God, was exalted to chief position in Egypt and so preserved the whole nation of Israel.
f. “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20).
2. Job.
a. Experienced calamity.
b. Remained confident in God’s provision.
3. Paul.
a. Endured severe difficulty.
b. Prayed for relief from his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7ff).
c. “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9).
d. “At my first defense no one supported me; but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Tim 4:16).
e. After reminding Timothy of his sufferings in Antioch and Iconium and Lystra Paul said, “Out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2 Tim. 3:11).
4. Cornelius.
a. God brought the gospel to Cornelius and his household.
b. This was no accidental provision.
5. Ethopian.
a. He sent Philip to the Ethopian.
b. One man. One messenger. God is concerned to deliver individuals.
6. God will deliver you. You need to be confident in His deliverances.
B. Not without difficulty (1 Pet. 4:18).
1. Each of the individuals we have noted experienced difficulty and you will too.
2. The disobedient experience the consequences of their sins.
a. Our perception of punishment is that God is capricious, setting up arbitrary rules and then making severe consequences. This perception is skewed by our childish understanding.
b. Punishment as perceived by God involves the natural consequences of sin (cf. Rom. 1:24, 26, 28). God gave them over… Note on 1 Cor. 5:5: “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh.” We may interpret this as malicious, but if we read further we understand the truth. “So that his spirit may be saved.”
c. Children interpret the discipline of their parents as malicious. Even though the discipline hurts the parent more than the child.
C. The response of those delivered: praise (Isa. 43:21).
1. David (Psa. 51:15).
2. “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You” (Psa. 51:13).
3. Proclamation of His excellencies (1 Pet. 2:9-10).
D. If God does not redeem His people, if He does not prepare a roadway in the wilderness and give rivers in the desert (even to individuals) we have no message, no good news to proclaim.
Conclusion:
1. A roadway in the wilderness provides the way of escape. 2. Rivers in the desert provides deliverance from the thirst of death. 3. God delivered Israel from Babylon, but this is only a type of the great deliverance He provides from the wilderness of sin and death through Jesus Christ.
