A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the desert
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.” — Isaiah 40:3–4

The Torah portion for this week is Va’etchanan, which means “I pleaded,” from Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11, and the Haftorah is from Isaiah 40:1–26.

This week’s Haftorah begins seven weeks of readings known as “The Seven Comforts.” These Haftorah portions are read between Tisha B’Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, and Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Tisha B’Av recounts all the tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people and ourselves as individuals, and these seven readings from the book of Isaiah urge us to move forward, repent, and heal. With some of the most well-known words of the Bible, the reading begins: “Comfort, comfort, my people . . .” (Isaiah 40:1).

Two verses later we read: “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’”

The Sages ask: Whose voice is calling? And what is the message?

One opinion suggests it is the soft, still voice within us that urges us to come closer to God. In Judaism, the desert often symbolizes a place devoid of godliness. On the other hand, the Bible (God’s Word) is compared to water – water that gives life and brings about fruition. A desert results when God’s life-giving waters are not present. Any time we turn away from God or act in sinful ways, we are walking into a spiritual desert.

However, God loves us too much to let us go without a word. It’s as if He calls out to us, “Don’t shut me out! Make space for Me in your life!” Specifically, God says: “prepare the way” and “make straight . . . a highway.” If we want God in our lives, we have to make a way for Him to enter.

When we want to create a physical path, it requires us to move obstacles out of the way. We have to clear any impediments that block the path. The same is true when we want to get closer to God. We have to get rid of anything that stands in the way. We need to weed out damaging behaviors and roll away inappropriate thoughts.

If we want to turn that path into a highway – one that can be traveled easily and quickly – we need to straighten it out so that we aren’t slowed down by the twists and turns in the road. Bridges are built over valleys and tunnels are bored through mountains to allow roads to advance smoothly. Similarly, when we want to have the ease of access to God, we need to straighten out our paths. Where do we stray? Where do we navigate down roads we shouldn’t travel? We need to straighten out how we live so that God can work miracles in our lives.

Today, let’s make our paths a little straighter. Clear the way for God, and He will make a way for you.