NOTES for Isa 40:1-11

For us, the Bible is a word of consolation. People opening it for the first time most often say that it is a book about cruelty, vengeance, and the inevitability of punishment. But it is enough to make an effort and you will hear what God says to the human person, and how and what He taught His people. He says, "And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." All flesh: that is, no one is rejected, there are no better and worse people, no righteous and sinners; He offers salvation to everyone. When we read this text and the parable of the one lost sheep, we can understand this apparent injustice of merciful love. He seeks everyone, even when the others feel that they have been abandoned to their fate. When the one being sought is you, lost and thirsting for salvation, this is understandable and obviously right. It is harder to admit that for the moment you can wait while another person is found.