Isaiah 35 is considered to be a prophecy about Jesus. It is often read during Advent. It speaks of God’s establishment of his kingdom. God’s people will walk on the Holy Way where no one shall go astray. All will be healed and made whole. Everyone who has been ransomed by the Lord will return to Zion, sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 36 recounts the coming of King Sennacherib of Assyria to defeat Jerusalem. Hezekiah is king and despite the taunts of Assyria Hezekiah remains faithful to God. The Assyrians try to turn the people against Hezekiah out of fear for what might happen to them. They encourage the people to turn to other gods. The people do not respond but come to Hezekiah and tell him what the Assyrians have said.

Hebrews 3 compares Jesus to Moses. While Moses was a faithful servant to God Jesus is God’s son and has charge of God’s house. Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession.

We are told to encourage each other as long as it is called “today” to keep the faith and not to be deceived by sin. Again, comparing followers of Christ with followers of Moses the writer recounts that God became angry with them because of their unbelief. They were not allowed into the Promised Land because they were disobedient.

I am intrigued by the phrase “as long as it is called today.” We have been given a task: to remain faithful and to encourage others to remain faithful each and every day. That is our life’s work for each day that we live. We are not to worry about tomorrow or fret about yesterday. We are simply to be occupied with each day’s task: to encourage others in faith.