The Desert Will Bloom
"Be strong, do not fear!"
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What does it say?
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The whole message, in shortThe main points of the whole message, in a few sentences.
Isaiah promised that the desert would rejoice and blossom, and told God's people to strengthen weak hands and say to anxious hearts, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come." When God comes, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, and water will gush in the wilderness. The redeemed will walk home on a highway called the Way of Holiness, singing, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
Where it is in the Bible: Isaiah 35
All the sections at a glanceA map of the message, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Message
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Desert Will Rejoice | 35:1-2 | Dry land bursts into bloom |
| 2. Be Strong, Do Not Fear | 35:3-4 | God is coming to save |
| 3. The Blind Will See | 35:5-7 | Bodies and land are healed |
| 4. The Way of Holiness | 35:8-10 | A safe road home, full of singing |
Before You Read
Who wrote it. The book is named for Isaiah, a prophet in Jerusalem (Isaiah 1:1).
What comes before. Chapter 34 is a dark picture of God's judgment on nations that opposed him. The land becomes a desert full of thorns and wild animals (34:13).
What this passage is. Chapter 35 turns everything around. The desert bursts into flowers. It is a poem of joy and homecoming.
How to read it. Read it out loud. Notice everything that changes: dry to wet, weak to strong, blind to seeing, sad to singing.
Section by Section
Section 1 of 4The Desert Will Rejoice
"The wilderness and the land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose" (35:1).
Imagine a dry, cracked desert suddenly covered in flowers.
It will be as green as Lebanon's forests and Carmel's hills.
"They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God" (35:2).
Section 2 of 4Be Strong, Do Not Fear
"Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!" (35:3).
Limp hands and shaky knees are what happens when people are scared or tired.
Say to those with anxious hearts, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come" (35:4).
God will come to set things right and to save his people.
Section 3 of 4The Blind Will See
"Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped" (35:5).
"Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy" (35:6). Mute means unable to speak.
Water will gush out in the desert. Dry ground will become pools and springs.
Section 4 of 4The Way of Holiness
A highway will run through the desert. "And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness" (35:8).
No lions or wild animals will be on it. It will be safe.
"But the redeemed will walk upon it" (35:9). The redeemed are people God has set free.
"So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee" (35:10).
Zion means Jerusalem, God's city.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "The desert will rejoice and blossom" (35:1) | God can make life where there was none. |
| "Strengthen the limp hands" (35:3) | Encourage people who are tired and scared. |
| "Be strong, do not fear!" (35:4) | God is coming, so there is hope. |
| "The eyes of the blind will be opened" (35:5) | God will heal what is broken. |
| "The Way of Holiness" (35:8) | God makes a safe road home for his people. |
| "Sorrow and sighing will flee" (35:10) | One day, sadness will run away for good. |
Back Then
Israel is mostly dry. In the desert to the south, rain is rare. A blooming desert was a picture of a miracle.
Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon were famous for being green. Lebanon had great cedar forests. Carmel and Sharon had rich pastures and flowers.
Exile meant a long journey through the desert. People taken to Babylon would have to cross harsh land to come home.
Literal Reader Alert
Does God heal every disability now? Jesus healed many people as signs of his kingdom. Not everyone is healed in this life. Isaiah's promise will be fully true when God makes all things new.
Does a disability mean something is wrong with a person? No. Every person is made in God's image and loved by him. This promise is about God ending all suffering and pain.
"God will come with vengeance." Is that scary? For people who are hurt and afraid, it is good news. God will come to set things right and to save them.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The tired | Weak | Their hands and knees were shaking (35:3) |
| The anxious | Afraid | They had fearful hearts (35:4) |
| The redeemed | Joyful | They come home singing (35:10) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What part of you feels like a desert? Tap one.
Tired
"Strengthen the limp hands." God gives strength.
Anxious
"Be strong, do not fear! Your God will come."
Sad
One day, sorrow and sighing will flee.
I need healing
Jesus brought these signs. He cares for your body and heart.
You Might Have Heard
"Some places, and some people, are just dry and dead."
What's true: Some seasons of life feel like a desert.
What the passage is mainly about: God makes deserts bloom. He strengthens the weak, heals the broken, and brings his people home singing. When God comes, nothing stays the same.
Where Jesus is: Jesus opened blind eyes and made the lame walk. Those were the signs Isaiah promised. He is the God who came to save.
Good News
The desert was dry. God made it bloom.
"Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come" (35:4).
God came in Jesus. He healed people and opened a way home to God. One day he will make everything new, and sorrow will run away.
God turns deserts into gardens and sorrow into singing. In Jesus, our God has come to save.
Big Idea
The desert will bloom. Be strong, do not fear: your God will come to save, heal, and bring his people home singing.
If this message brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that God's promises are for people who feel weak and afraid, not for the strong. The gospel is God's word to anxious hearts: "Be strong, do not fear."
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year A, it reads Isaiah 35:1-10 on the Third Sunday of Advent, next to Jesus's answer to John the Baptist. In Year B, it reads Isaiah 35:4-7a in September (Lectionary 23).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Be strong, do not fear!
How did that feel?
You finished The Desert Will Bloom.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Third Sunday of Advent Year AFirst reading, Isaiah 35:1–10
- Lectionary 23 Year BFirst reading, Isaiah 35:4–7a
For a newsletter or sermon notes
The Desert Will Bloom, explained in plain words. Dry land bursts into flowers. The blind see, and the lame leap. About 8 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/the-desert-will-bloom/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church