“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 40:3–5).
These verses stand as one of the most pivotal passages in the Old Testament, marking a dramatic shift from messages of judgment to a soaring promise of hope and divine restoration. Written during a time of exile and uncertainty, these verses provide a roadmap for spiritual preparation, assuring us that no matter how rugged the terrain of our lives, the glory of the Lord will ultimately be revealed.
The passage begins with “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” Historically, this refers to heralds sent ahead of a king to ensure his path was clear of debris and obstacles. It is encouraging how well this seems to go along with 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
The imagery of moving mountains and filling valleys is a profound metaphor for the internal work required to encounter God at an intimate level. These verses contain some of the most vivid spiritual imagery in the Bible, describing the removal of every obstacle that stands between a person and God’s glory.
There is an interesting metaphor here involving the building of a highway. In ancient times, kings of the East sent heralds to prepare physical processional roads. They cut through hills and filled in trenches so the monarch’s chariot could travel unhindered. Isaiah uses this practice as a metaphor for spiritual preparation. For God’s glory to be revealed in our lives, we must clear the spiritual terrain of our hearts.
Valleys represent seasons of despondency, despair, and weak faith. God lifts these areas by offering hope and the assurance of His love. Every mountain and hill made low represents the high places of human pride and self-righteousness. To encounter God, we must humble ourselves and recognize that we cannot save ourselves.
“The crooked shall be made straight.” In Hebrew, crooked (ʿāqōb) refers to deceit or twisted motives. This is the call to integrity — aligning our lives with God’s truth rather than following our own winding paths of compromise. The rough places represent the harsh, stony areas of our character, such as anger or unforgiveness. God’s grace smooths these rough edges, refining our temperament into one of gentleness and peace.
Why? The purpose of this roadwork is not just for our own benefit. It is so that the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. The text says that all flesh shall see it together, signifying that God’s salvation is for everyone, regardless of nationality or status. The passage concludes with this assurance: “the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” — an absolute guarantee that what God promises will come to pass.
From Our Missionaries
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “Every January, we set out to visit all the families at Ebenezer to pray for them with the priestly blessing from Num. 6:22-27. So far, each encounter has been very uplifting, allowing us to learn about their stories and struggles and strengthen our fellowship. The families have expressed how much these pastoral visits mean to them.
“One experience that deeply impacted me was visiting Mr. Antonio, the husband of one of our members. Although he attends an Adventist church, he welcomed us with immense joy and told me that in all his years, it was the first time a pastor had visited him. His words reaffirmed in me the importance of this ministry of visitation that I have always sought to maintain.
“I ask for your prayers, as my health has been affected since the beginning of January. The doctor diagnosed me with a respiratory infection and has prescribed rest, medication, and, most difficult for a pastor, talking less. In addition, some of the results of my annual December exams require attention. As I tell my wife, we must accept that the years are passing and we need to take better care of ourselves.
“I thank you in advance for your support in prayer. To God be the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had a great week at Faith Chapel! After such a blessed week last week with three getting saved, it wasn’t quite as exciting, but it was great, nonetheless. We woke Sunday morning to a temperature of 10°, which kept our numbers down a little from last week, but we still had a great time of worship with a pretty good attendance for both Sunday School and Worship.
“The floors were completed on Thursday, Praise God! I called the cabinetmaker; he delivered our cabinets and vanities that same day and installed them on Friday. Praise God again! And they look wonderful. Our kitchen will be as welcoming as the classrooms. They are supposed to measure for countertops on Tuesday; all doors and trim lumber are supposed to be delivered this week, and HVAC and plumbing are next. John and I are trying to get the lights and receptacles finished this week as well. Praise God again, we are getting closer every day, and it will be so good to be completed.
“We thank you all again for your support and for your prayers! Please continue; God is answering!”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “Faith Journey was active in our community this week through several outreach opportunities. We treated a couple of local businesses to Sonic drinks as a small way to introduce ourselves and bring a little joy to their day. We also had the opportunity to feed around 100 students at a local high school’s monthly FCA meeting. During that time, a lesson was shared on Peter stepping out in faith. Several students stayed afterward to ask questions and talk more, and we pray that seeds were planted through those conversations.
“In addition, we have had some divine appointments this week where we were able to share the gospel with individuals in our community, and we look forward to more opportunities like these. It is truly a blessing to be able to serve and minister outside the church walls.”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “Blessings, brothers and sisters in Christ, greetings from NWA. This week, the weather affected all our meetings. We had to suspend the connection groups and the workshop for service directors on Saturday, and we also saw on Sunday that several families did not attend due to the weather. Let’s pray because it appears this week’s temperatures will be lower.
“Something that I thank the Lord for is the great enthusiasm and desire to learn of the group of brothers from our Sunday school, since the beginning of 2026 I have not been able to finish the lessons because of the questions and topics that we can talk about at this time, it is something beautiful to see them writing down in their notebooks and with the enthusiasm that they arrive.
“We know that the Lord uses difficult circumstances for our good and for His glory, my wife Patty had an injury to her back on Tuesday, so she was resting, and since she is the children’s teacher, Ashley a young woman who attends our church, this situation made Ashely commit herself as a children’s teacher, glory to the Lord.”
