Bible insights from your friends at La Jolla Lutheran Church

Be open to God's prophetic direction

Isaiah said, "Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed.”

Instinctively, we can sense that what Isaiah says is beautiful. But if you imagine the Grand Canyon getting filled in and the Grand Tetons being reduced to rubble just so everything can be flat, it doesn't sound very beautiful.

So if Isaiah isn't talking about real hills and real valleys, what is he talking about?

Fortunately, we can find out and get an idea about how prophetic imagery works.

Jesus said this prophecy was fulfilled by John the Baptist.

John understood his ministry as one that created a road with no bumps that went straight to God. He taught people to recognize the gap between where they were and where God said they could be, to express their sorrow for the gap and to change their behavior for the better.

As people did this, they became open to the message of Jesus.

God, help us to be open to your prophetic direction. And help us to correctly understand it! Let your glory be revealed in our lives.Thank you. Amen.