Thursday, October 16 Clear up the way of Jehovah! Make a straight highway through the desert for our God.​—Isa. 40:3.

[Áine]

Thursday, October 16

Clear up the way of Jehovah! Make a straight highway through the desert for our God.—Isa. 40:3.

 

The difficult literal journey from Babylon to Israel could take about four months, but Jehovah promised that any obstacles that seemed to prevent their return would be cleared away. In the minds of faithful Jews, the benefits of returning to Israel far outweighed any sacrifices they would make. The greatest blessing involved their worship. There was no temple of Jehovah in Babylon. There was no altar where the Israelites could offer up the sacrifices required by the Mosaic Law, and there was no organized priesthood to offer those sacrifices. In addition, Jehovah’s people were greatly outnumbered by pagan men and women, who had no regard for Jehovah or his standards. So God-fearing Jews—thousands of them—were looking forward to returning to their homeland where they could restore pure worship. w23.05 14-15 ¶3-4

[Watching and Waiting]

Jehovah has used his organization to provide a steady flow of spiritual food to help all of us to keep traveling on "the Way of Holiness."  Whatever our destination as a servant of Jehovah, whether heavenly or earthly, it is our determination to keep traveling on that 'highway' and not look back. Each refinement we receive is the result of work done by faithful "road workers," done gradually over time.  (substance of w23 May p. 15-18)

[dljbsp]

For those exiles, the pull of home wasn’t about land or comfort — it was about worship. Babylon had temples by the dozens, but not one altar to Jehovah. The faithful longed for that, not luxury — a place where sacrifices could rise again, where hearts could be clean. And when Jehovah promised to clear their path, to turn the rough ground level, it wasn’t just about terrain — it was about removing every obstacle between His people and pure worship.

[daydream]

*** ip-1 chap. 30 p. 400 par. 6 “Comfort My People” ***
6 Before embarking on a journey, Eastern rulers would often send out men to prepare the way by removing big stones and even building causeways and leveling hills. In the case of the returning Jews, it will be as if God himself is in the forefront, clearing away any obstacles.

 

After all, these are Jehovah’s name people, and fulfilling his promise to restore them to their homeland will cause his glory to be manifest before all the nations. Like it or not, those nations will be forced to see that Jehovah is the Fulfiller of his promises.
https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=1102000050&srctype=wol&srcid=share&par=10

 

Maps : ( couldn't find the map of 'Return of Jewish exiles')

Spoiler

The Book of Ezra | Walking with the Bible

 

Hamath 2 - Casual English Bible