by Denise Sciuto, Frontier Fellowship Associate Director
The book of Isaiah describes God’s judgment and restoration as He establishes His Kingdom on earth. While Isaiah issues many warnings to people regarding their rebellious actions and attitudes, the book is also brimming with God’s compassion and His promise to rescue His people—a foreshadowing of God’s plan to bring salvation to everyone through Christ.
Today’s passage describes one such promise—that God will guide the blind, enabling them to traverse unfamiliar and uneven paths by offering light to illuminate the darkness and the assurance of His presence. This promise gives me hope for the unprecedented number of people who are displaced worldwide today. Surely God will lovingly guide weary refugees, leading them to places of safety, stability and rest.
As conflict and famine persist in Sudan and South Sudan, many people have fled to refugee camps for safety. Yet in the midst of tragedy, God isn’t far off, making His compassionate presence known through South Sudanese followers of Jesus. Long before the current crisis unfolded, God had already begun turning the rough places into level ground—forming relationships and partnerships between pastors and ministries who are now united in caring for the uprooted. People groups that were previously without access to the Gospel are now not only finding physical shelter in refugee camps, but also encountering spiritual refuge in the Good News of Jesus.
As you reflect on Isaiah 42:16, are there places in your own journey where you feel blind, where the road ahead seems unfamiliar? Ask God to light the next step. Ask Him to show you how you can embody His loving presence to others who may feel blind, especially immigrants and refugees navigating unfamiliar territory. Support ministries serving the displaced or invite a refugee into your home for a meal. Pray that God will make uncertain paths traversable through His grace and guide weary wanderers to a place of peace.
Read more from our Advent devotional series.
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