I prefer to run on the soft dirt instead of concrete. Behind my house runs a dirt path which widens to become a road at places. Occasionally, the county sends trucks back into the park to fix things. At other times, tractors drive the road to mow the meadows. This works well in dry seasons. But the heavy vehicles wreck the path when they drive on it after a rain. Deep ruts, and large chunks of mud scar the surface, making it easy to turn an ankle or twist a knee. I have watched this pattern for over twenty years. Eventually, either the rains or a grader comes in to repair the damage.
Isaiah had seen leaders muck up the works for decades. God alone could make a smooth path for his people. What was the right way for Israel? God’s way. Walking in God’s way, the people waited in dependence on God. Notice that their focus was not on their circumstances but on God’s renown and name. Isaiah confessed that he yearned for the Lord in the night; in the morning his spirit longed for God. God sends grace to the good and the evil. Grace teaches righteousness to those who want to learn. But the evil perceive grace as weakness and try to take advantage of it.
Many years ago, a college intern named Louie came to Tallowood. I don’t know the full details of the story, but along the way he and some of Tallowood’s college students came upon these verses. With Isaiah, they put their “yes” on the table with God (v. 8). That whole summer they walked together in God’s way, in his word. They waited for God and they pursued his name, his renown, and his fame. They desired God’s fame above their own. Out of that summer a Bible study was birthed in Waco, and then 268 ministries (Isaiah 26:8), and then the Passion movement, and Passion conferences, the One Day events, and Passion City Church in Atlanta where Louie Giglio serves as Pastor.
There is a level path to life running right in front of us. God’s way is the “high-way.” God’s grace is not in short supply. Even now, the heart of God longs to bring renewal, awakening, and revival to a group of people somewhere. Where? How do we get there? We don’t want to miss it. But what if God is waiting for people who will wait on him in prayer. Perhaps God is looking for the next group of people who will care more about his renown than their own. The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strongly support those whose hearts are fully committed to him. God is waiting for people to stop doing evil and regard his sovereign majesty. What if we are those people? We could be those people. Will we? Take one step forward and God will open the path before you. Let God have the first and last words in our lives today. Let us walk in that way.
