Power Read The Bible In 60 Days With Jeff AndersonSample

Day 35

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

[Schedule Reading: Isaiah 32-47]

A voice cries: ‘in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’ (Isaiah 40:3).

I suspect that 2,000 years ago, when the little Jewish boys and girls were learning to read from the scrolls, they all learned Isaiah 40:3.

I imagine they memorized it in “Scroll Class,” like kids today recite John 3:16 in Sunday school.

Of course, the gospel accounts had not yet been written - so the prophet scrolls would have been the most fresh texts available.

It is interesting that all four of the gospel writers - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - quote Isaiah 40:3 early in their accounts.

That voice “in the wilderness” is that of John the Baptist… the prophet of prophets. John was the prophet of whom the historic prophet Isaiah spoke, the one who would come to prepare the way for the messiah.

The Jews were eager for this future prophet to arrive.

Consider the attention the future antichrist receives today? Who will he be? From where will he arrive? And when will he arrive?

Being a prophet of light, John’s arrival must certainly have been eagerly awaited. After Israel's downfall, exile and eventual return to their land, the future hope for the Jews was to be ushered in by this prophet character.

While not everyone was paying attention, many were. Especially those who read and studied the prophets.