Conclusion of A Comforting Promise

Before embarking on a journey, Eastern rulers would often send out men to prepare the way by removing big stones and even building causeways and leveling hills.  In the case of the returning Jews, it will be as if God himself is in the forefront, clearing away any obstacles.  After all, these are Jehovah's name people, and fulfilling his promise to restore them to their homeland will cause his glory to be manifest before all the nations.  Like it or not, those nations will be forced to see that Jehovah is the Fulfiller of his promises.

The restoration in the sixth century B.C.E. was not the only fulfillment of this prophecy.  There was also a fulfillment in the first century C.E. John the Baptizer was the voice of someone "crying  out in the wilderness,"  in fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3 .  (Luke 3:1-6)  Under inspiration, John applied Isaiah's words to himself.  (John 1:19-23)  Starting in 29 C.E., John began preparing the way for Jesus Christ.  John's advance proclamation aroused people to look for the promised Messiah so that they, in turn, might listen to him and follow him.  (Luke 1:13-17, 76)  Through Jesus, Jehovah would lead repentant ones into the freedom that only God's Kingdom can provide-liberation from bondage to sin and death. (John 1:29; 8:32)  Isaiah's words had a larger fulfillment in the deliverance of the remnant of spiritual Israel from Babylon the Great in 1919 and in their restoration to true worship.

What, though, about those who are in line to benefit from the initial fulfillment of the promise-the Jewish captives in Babylon?  Can they really trust Jehovah's promise to return them  to their beloved homeland?  Indeed, they can!  With vivid words and illustrations taken from everyday life, Isaiah now gives compelling reasons why they can have complete confidence that Jehovah will prove true to his word.

Next time: A God Whose Word Lasts Forever

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000