Isaiah 40:3-5 (NKJV): The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare 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 brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
The word 'straight' in "Make straight in the desert a highway for our God" here is 'yashar' in Hebrew, which means 'make right, clear, pleasant, prosperous', and the expression "the crooked places shall be made straight" here speaks of 'concording (i.e. in agreement, in harmony), aligning (with God's ways)'.
The other day, I heard these words from the Lord:
"Align yourselves to Me, for I will make your crooked places straight. Do not allow the enemy to take root and have a foothold in your life. I will teach you how."
Then, I heard further:
"Stay strong this time and season, and continue to receive strength and sustenance from Me. I am your strength and your sustenance. The power of darkness cannot and will not have any foothold in your life and in your body."
By the way, the word 'foothold' is defined as 'a place affording a secure grip for the foot, a firm position that provides a base for further advancement'.
Let's go back to Isaiah 40 now. This is a very significant chapter in the book of Isaiah because it speaks of the beginning of a new season, new cycle, new hope, new testament, or new covenant.
Notice that the book of Isaiah ('Yesha Yah', meaning 'Yah has saved') is like a miniature Bible, with the first 39 chapters representing the number of books in the Old Testament, and the next 27 chapters representing the number of books in the New Testament. The number '40' (as in Isaiah 40) in Hebrew numeric means 'maturity, total rule'. For example, after 40 years of wilderness experience, Moses finally reached a time and season of 'maturity' (i.e. God saw him ready to deliver the Israelites from the bondage in Egypt). It was also the beginning of 'total rule' of God's authority (and power) working through Moses to deliver God's people from the stranglehold of Pharaoh.
The other two verses in the book of Isaiah that mentions 'the crooked places be made straight' are found in Isaiah 42:16 and Isaiah 45:2.
In Isaiah 42:16, the Lord says, "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them."
And then, in Isaiah 45:2, the Lord says, "I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron."
Note: 'Bronze' here speaks of 'man's way, sinful way, fleshly way, worldly way', whereas 'iron' speaks of 'blockages/strongholds put by the enemy to hinder your progress'.
So, here you are! Three verses with the same expression 'crooked places be made straight' in the book of Isaiah! Interestingly, the word 'crooked' in each of these three verses are of three different Hebrew words with very specific meanings. Let's look at each of these words now:
In Isaiah 40:4, the word is 'aqob', meaning 'crooked (as in deceitful, fraudulent, polluted)'.
In Isaiah 42:16, the word is 'maaqash', meaning 'crooked (as in a path or a road)'.
In Isaiah 45:2, the word is 'hadar', meaning 'crooked (as in to swell up, to be proud, i.e. the pride of men)'.
How about the word 'places', say in Isaiah 40:4 or Isaiah 45:2?
It is the Hebrew word 'maqowm', which is a very general word that covers many aspects, namely 'a standing, a spot, a condition (of body and mind), a room, a home, a space, a locality, or even a country'.
People of God, as you enter a new season/cycle this month, begin by declaring 'the crooked places be made straight' for you! (e.g. a new venture, a new business, a new job, a new ministry, or even a new location). This is also the time to receive the anointing from on high to clear the way for you, as you move into the new things in your life! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Scripture reading: Judges chapter 9 - read how Jotham's words and declaration eventually made straight a crooked (wicked) situation.
