20150722 Thursday, July 23 2015
Isaiah 35: What Causes Or Cures A Desert?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water"

Vast areas of the world have become desert wilderness due to lack of rain or snow (deserts are classified as "hot" or "cold" - they can be found at any latitude, from the Equator to the Polar regions). The extreme dryness not only prevents most plants from providing ground cover, but also causes loss of most organic matter that does exist - leaving only rocks and sand.

Prevailing weather patterns can turn almost any well-watered area into a desert or a desert into a well-watered area. Anyone who can control the weather can cause, or cure, a desert. Humans don't have that power, but the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God) surely does - as a blessing, or as a curse.

"107:33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; 107:34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

107:35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. 107:36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; 107:37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. 107:38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease." (Psalm 107:33-38 KJV)

Isaiah (see also What Did The Messiah Read From Isaiah That Day?) was well-familiar with what causes, or cures, a desert. But notice carefully that every time he spoke of it, he did so within the context of the LORD's blessing the righteous, or cursing the wicked.

"32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 32:3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. 32:4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. 32:6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail." (Isaiah 32:1-6 KJV)

"41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 41:18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: 41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it." (Isaiah 41:17-20 KJV)

"44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 44:4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses." (Isaiah 44:2-4 KJV)

As Isaiah wrote this chapter, Judah and Jerusalem were under siege by a massive Assyrian invasion army (see Why Did The Assyrian Army Cross The Line? and The Sieges Of Ariel - Past And Future). Isaiah prophesied of the LORD's deliverance from the unauthorized invasion - once again, in the context of turning a spiritual desert into a well-watered land.

"35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 35:7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isaiah 35:1-10 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is the largest desert in the land of Israel?
See The Negev Of Israel