Highway For Our God

Did you ever take notice of the amount of trucks on the road?
We see them daily in our travels.
Depending on the road we are driving on, we may see more trucks than cars.

The morning is incredibly busy if you are a truck driver.
Trucks with roof trusses, meticulously packed like puzzle pieces on the back.
Trucks that have rolls and rolls of playground cover material…ready for little feet.

The road I was traveling on is a major truck route.
I was amazed at the activity that time of morning.
All of the trucks had a destination.
Our truck drivers really do keep business moving.

The Romans developed a massive network of roads that stretched over 50,000 miles.
One of the three major highways, during Jesus’ time, was the Via Maris.
It was also known as the Way of the Sea.
This road stretched from Egypt to modern day Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria.

The Mediterranean world had become the Greco-Roman world.
It was, in essence, one big marketplace.
The main roads had a three foot bed that was paved with gravel, stones, and concrete.
Since they were built to last, some of these roads can still be seen today.

The Via Maris was a major trade route.
Merchants paid taxes to Rome on all of their transactions.
The taxes helped to fund the building of more roads…and consequently Roman expansion.
The Roman army could move freely and quickly on these roads to defend its borders.
Along the roads were inns and restaurants…places to rest for the night and get food.

This elaborate system of roads was in place by the time Jesus was born.

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past, He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan. (Isaiah 9:1)

God had much bigger plans.
Rome built the roads to expand commerce and ultimately the Roman Empire.
God used the roads to expand His Kingdom.

This elaborate system of roads was firmly in place.
Built with such incredible engineering, even puddles were nonexistent.
Cracking from freezing, was not a problem due to the base levels of stone and gravel.
Where the ancient roads were rutted and muddy, the paved roads were clear.

Nothing to hinder the spread of the Gospel.

Merchants carried their treasures on this road to the city marketplace.
Now another treasure would be carried.
The Good News of God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ…the Messiah.
God prepared the roads in advance, so that the Gospel could be brought to the people.

A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the wilderness, a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 40:3-5)

A highway for our God.
Rome thought the highway was for them.
God had another plan.

He always does!
What we mean to use for ourselves, God redeems.
What we intend to use for our own purposes, God claims for Himself.

When the Gospel went forth, the roads were already there to facilitate its expansion.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Go and make disciples on the highway for our God.
That highway is everywhere we place our feet.
The roads have already been claimed for Him.
Go and Tell!