Isaiah 35:1–10 Study

Isaiah 35:1–10 offers one of the most hopeful visions in all of Scripture. It speaks into seasons that feel dry, empty, or uncertain and reminds us that God brings life where nothing seems to grow. This chapter shows a desert bursting into bloom, weary people finding strength again, and a joyful road opening for God’s redeemed. When we study Isaiah 35, we discover a picture of God’s heart—He steps into barren places and fills them with color, healing, and joy. This is a passage built for anyone who has ever felt worn down and wondered if God still sees them.

In the season of Advent, Isaiah’s message becomes even more meaningful. Advent isn’t about pretending everything is perfect; it’s about looking at our own wilderness moments and trusting that God is already working beneath the surface. Isaiah paints a future where sorrow flees and joy crowns God’s people, and Jesus shows that this promise begins right now through His healing, His presence, and His restoring grace. The desert blooms because God comes close. That’s not wishful thinking—it’s trust rooted in the character of a faithful God.

Background of Isaiah

Background and Context
Isaiah 35 stands as one of the most radiant promises in the entire Bible—a lyrical, hope-filled vision of God reversing desolation and transforming every dry, thirsty place. To understand its weight, we have to consider where it appears. Isaiah 34 and 35 form a pair—judgment in 34, restoration in 35. Scholars often refer to these chapters as a “before and after picture” of the world under judgment versus the world restored by God (Motyer).
Historically, Isaiah’s ministry stretched across the late 8th century BCE, during the rise of the Assyrian Empire. Israel in the north had already fallen to Assyria in 722 BCE, and Judah lived under the shadow of invasion. Isaiah 1–39 addresses a world of political fear, spiritual decline, and looming devastation. The land itself would soon become a wilderness because of war, exile, and abandonment. So when Isaiah speaks of deserts blossoming, lame bodies leaping, and sorrow fleeing, he is declaring hope before the devastation hits.
This is important: Isaiah is not describing the return from exile as much as he is describing God’s ultimate act of redemption, the full restoration of creation. What Judah would experience partially after Babylon, God would complete fully in His coming future.
Because of this forward-looking nature, Christian interpreters have long recognized Isaiah 35 as Messianic. The signs Isaiah lists match the ministry of Jesus—so much so that Jesus quotes this chapter when John the Baptist sends messengers to ask, “Are You the One?” (Matthew 11:2–6). Isaiah 35 becomes a way of saying, “When the Messiah comes, joy rises like water in the desert.”
From a Wesleyan perspective, Isaiah 35 reflects God’s restoring grace—grace that heals, renews, and brings life where there was none (Maddox). It is a picture of God’s ultimate intention for creation: flourishing, harmony, and joy.

Literary Setting and Structure
Isaiah 35 is a highly poetic oracle filled with imagery rooted in creation. Scholars often divide it into three movements:
Creation Restored (vv. 1–2)
The wilderness bursts into bloom and sings with joy.
The Weak Strengthened (vv. 3–7)
God renews His people—weak hands gain strength, blind eyes open, and deserts flow with streams.
The Redeemed Return (vv. 8–10)
A “Way of Holiness” guides God’s people safely home, crowned with everlasting joy.

Its placement after the bleak judgment of chapter 34 heightens its contrast. The shift from doom to rejoicing signals a transition from human ruin to divine redemption.
The chapter forms a prophetic bridge between present suffering and future hope—a perfect text for Advent.

Wesleyan Perspective of the Text

God’s Restoring Grace
Wesley understood salvation as more than forgiveness—it is the renewal of the whole person and, ultimately, the whole creation. Isaiah 35 shows God healing bodies, hearts, land, and community.

Holiness as a Journey
The “Way of Holiness” echoes Wesleyan themes of sanctification. God not only saves His people but guides them on a path shaped by His presence and character.

Joy as a Sign of Redemption
Not shallow happiness, but deep, Spirit-born joy. Wesley insisted that joy is the fruit of a life awakened by grace.

The Already and the Not Yet
Isaiah 35 belongs to prophetic eschatology. We see signs of this renewal now through Christ and the Spirit, but its fullness awaits Christ’s return.

Exegesis

Isaiah 35:1–2 – Creation Rejoices
“The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom.”
Isaiah begins with a picture of land that shouldn’t be fruitful—arid, cracked ground. In Scripture, wilderness symbolizes chaos, exile, and abandonment. God meets people there, but life rarely grows there. So when the desert “rejoices” and “bursts into bloom,” the imagery signals supernatural renewal (Oswalt).
Isaiah says the desert will “rejoice like the crocus,” a flower known for sudden, vibrant blooming. This isn’t gradual improvement—it’s explosive joy.
He also says it will receive “the glory of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon,” three regions known for lush forests, fertile soil, and beauty. Isaiah’s point: Where there is only death, God brings abundance equal to the richest parts of the land.
The line “they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God” ties restoration directly to God’s presence. Creation’s transformation is a revelation of God Himself.
Isaiah 35:3–4 – Encouragement to the Fearful
Isaiah shifts from creation to humanity. “Strengthen the weak hands, steady the knees that give way.” These were the people overwhelmed by fear—fear of Assyria, fear of devastation, fear of loss.
The prophet tells them: “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come… He will come to save you.” This is one of the clearest Old Testament statements of divine intervention. Salvation isn’t abstract—it is God arriving in person. Advent echoes this truth: God comes to us, not the other way around.
The phrase “with vengeance, with divine retribution” isn’t vindictive—it is God setting things right, breaking oppression, and reversing injustice (Goldingay). God’s “coming” ushers in both healing and justice.
Isaiah 35:5–6 – The Weak Restored
“Then the eyes of the blind will be opened… the lame will leap like a deer.”
These miracles appear throughout Jesus’ ministry—so clearly, in fact, that Jesus cites them directly when John the Baptist asked for confirmation (Matthew 11).
From an apologetic standpoint, this connection between prophecy and fulfillment is striking. Isaiah names conditions that cannot heal themselves—blindness, deafness, paralysis. Their restoration signals the presence of divine power.
Isaiah continues:
“Water will break forth in the wilderness… burning sand will become a pool.”
This imagery echoes Israel’s wilderness wanderings (Exodus 17) but pushes beyond them. In the desert, water means life, renewal, and God’s active presence. It is a picture of new creation, something more than a temporary fix. It anticipates Jesus’ promise of “living water” (John 4) and the Spirit’s renewing work (Maddox).
Isaiah 35:7 – Reversal of Desolation
Where jackals once lived—symbols of abandonment—there will now be reeds and papyrus, vegetation that only flourishes where water is abundant.
Isaiah is emphasizing total reversal. Even the most desolate places become saturated with life.
Isaiah 35:8–9 – The Highway of Holiness
Here Isaiah introduces one of the book’s most famous images: “A highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.”
In the ancient world, a highway represented:
-safety
-accessibility
-a path prepared by a king for his people
The “Way of Holiness” isn’t just moral purity—it’s the path God prepares for His redeemed people. Only those who belong to Him walk it. It is not earned; it is granted.
“No lion will be there… only the redeemed will walk there.”
This road is a place without threat. No oppression. No fear. No danger. God removes every hazard. T
This is not merely a return from Babylon. This is the ultimate pilgrimage, pointing toward the New Jerusalem and the kingdom Jesus brings.
Isaiah 35:10 – Joy as the Final Word
“They will enter Zion with singing, everlasting joy will crown their heads.”
The text ends not with warning but with joy—joy that is permanent, not fleeting. Sorrow and sighing flee like shadows before sunrise.
This final verse summarizes the whole chapter:
-God restores creation.
-God restores His people.
-God restores joy.
This is eschatological hope—God setting all things right in a way no earthly power could ever accomplish.

Apologetic Reflection

Unity of Isaiah
Some debate whether Isaiah wrote all 66 chapters. However, Isaiah 35 fits seamlessly within Isaiah 1–39 through shared themes of:
- Zion’s redemption
- divine highway imagery
- the contrast of desolation and restoration
This literary consistency supports unity (Motyer).

Prophecy and Fulfillment Isaiah 35:5–6 lines up directly with Jesus’ ministry. These are not vague predictions but concrete acts—blind eyes opened, lame bodies healed. The Gospels present these not as metaphors but events witnessed by crowds (Keener).

Eschatological Hope The chapter’s imagery mirrors later visions in Revelation 21–22. Prophetic consistency across centuries strengthens the credibility of Scripture’s unified message.

Miracles and the Reliability of Prophetic Witness Isaiah 35 assumes a God who intervenes in creation. Far from being irrational, this assumption coheres with the biblical narrative and early Christian testimony that Jesus performed such miracles publicly (Keener).

Application

Isaiah 35 tells us that Advent joy isn’t fragile—it’s rooted in God’s faithfulness. Joy doesn’t wait for circumstances to improve; it rises because God is already moving.
Where we see barrenness—in our churches, families, or communities—God sees ground ready for blooming.
Where we see weakness, God strengthens. Where we see dry places, God pours living water.
And where we see long, weary roads, God builds a Highway of Holiness that carries us home.
Advent joy is not wishful thinking. It is confidence that God is restoring everything—from the cracked soil of creation to the cracked places inside us. Isaiah 35 invites us to imagine not just what is, but what God is doing even now.

Cross References

Isaiah 35:1–2 – Creation Rejoicing in Restoration
Cross-References:
Isaiah 40:3–5 – God prepares a way in the wilderness.
Isaiah 55:12–13 – Creation sings and flourishes at God’s redemption.
Psalm 96:11–13 – Creation rejoices when God comes to judge and renew.
Revelation 21:5 – God makes all things new.
Brief Commentary:
These passages reinforce Scripture’s consistent portrayal of creation participating in God’s saving work. Isaiah 35’s blossoming desert fits the larger biblical theme that redemption touches more than human hearts; it transforms the world itself.
Apologetic Value:
The continuity from Isaiah to Revelation supports the reliability and unity of Scripture’s redemptive narrative (Motyer). The motifs of renewal, joy, and new creation appear across centuries of biblical writings, strengthening confidence in prophetic coherence.

Isaiah 35:3–4 – Strength for the Weary; God Will Come
Cross-References:
Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you.”
Isaiah 52:7–10 – God comes to comfort and redeem Zion.
Zephaniah 3:16–17 – God is mighty to save, rejoicing over His people.
Hebrews 12:12–13 – “Strengthen the weak hands” is quoted directly.
Brief Commentary:
These texts show a consistent biblical message: God’s people need not fear because He Himself intervenes. Isaiah 35 promises divine arrival, not abstract comfort.
Apologetic Value:
The New Testament’s direct quotation of Isaiah 35 (Hebrews 12) shows apostolic recognition of its authority. This cross-canonical use strengthens confidence in Isaiah’s reliability and enduring theological relevance (Oswalt).

Isaiah 35:5–6 – Blind See, Deaf Hear, Lame Leap
Cross-References:
Isaiah 29:18–19 – Blind see; the poor rejoice.
Isaiah 61:1–2 – The Messianic servant brings healing and freedom.
Matthew 11:2–6 – Jesus cites Isaiah 35 as proof of His identity.
Luke 7:18–23 – A parallel account of Jesus pointing to these signs.
Brief Commentary:
Isaiah links physical healing to God’s presence. Jesus picks up these exact signs when confirming His messianic mission, identifying Isaiah 35 as a blueprint for the Messiah’s work (Keener).
Apologetic Value:
This is one of the strongest apologetic connections in Scripture. The correspondence between Isaiah’s prophecies and Jesus’ ministry—especially Jesus’ explicit citation—demonstrates: fulfillment of specific prophecy,
early Christian confidence in Isaiah’s predictive accuracy, and
Jesus’ own affirmation of Isaiah’s prophetic authority.
Prophecy here is not vague or symbolic; it matches historical deeds attributed to Jesus in multiple Gospel accounts (Keener).

Isaiah 35:6–7 – Waters in the Wilderness
Cross-References:Exodus 17:1–7 – Water from the rock in the desert.
Isaiah 41:17–20 – Water flows for the poor and needy.
John 4:13–14 – Jesus offers “living water.”
John 7:37–39 – The Spirit as life-giving water.
Brief Commentary:
Isaiah extends the Exodus pattern into a picture of end-time renewal. Water symbolizes the Spirit, life, joy, and the nearness of God (Maddox).
Apologetic Value:
The Exodus foundations, Isaiah’s vision, and Jesus’ teaching align to reveal a single, unified concept of God supplying supernatural life. This thematic cohesion across Testaments strengthens the argument for a divine Author guiding Scripture’s development (Goldingay).

Isaiah 35:8–9 – The Highway of Holiness
Cross-References:
Isaiah 40:3 – “Prepare the way of the Lord.”
Isaiah 62:10–12 – A highway for the redeemed.
Psalm 1 – The way of the righteous versus the way of the wicked.
John 14:6 – Jesus as the exclusive “Way.”
Brief Commentary:
The “Way of Holiness” is not merely moral direction—it is a divinely prepared road for a redeemed people. No threat or predator can hinder their travel.
Apologetic Value:
Isaiah’s road-of-redemption language forms a theological backbone that Jesus builds on when He identifies Himself as “the Way.” The typological connection between Isaiah’s Highway and Christ’s path reinforces the prophetic unity of Scripture (Motyer).

Isaiah 35:10 – The Redeemed Enter Zion with Joy
Cross-References:
Isaiah 51:11 – Almost identical wording; joy crowns the redeemed.
Psalm 126:1–6 – Joy and singing accompany restoration.
Revelation 21:1–4 – Sorrow and sighing flee in the new creation.
Revelation 22:1–5 – The redeemed dwell face-to-face with God.
Brief Commentary:
Isaiah ends with everlasting joy—a foretaste of the final chapters of Scripture. The language of “no more sorrow” and “everlasting joy” directly anticipates Revelation.
Apologetic Value:
The continuity between Isaiah’s 8th-century prophecy and John’s 1st-century apocalypse underscores the credibility of Scripture’s overarching eschatological vision.
Two writers, 800 years apart, describe the same redeemed future.
This literary unity strengthens the Christian claim that Scripture reflects a coherent, Spirit-guided revelation (Oswalt).

Sermon Study Handout

Works Cited

Goldingay, John. The Theology of the Book of Isaiah. InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Maddox, Randy L. Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Practical Theology. Kingswood Books, 1994.
Motyer, J. Alec. The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary. InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Oswalt, John N. The Book of Isaiah: Chapters 1–39. Eerdmans, 1986.