“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher” (Isaiah 30:20 ESV).
Isaiah spoke to a people who had turned away from God, chasing after false alliances and idols. Because of their rebellion, the Lord had hidden His face, and their experience was one of “adversity” and “affliction.” Yet Isaiah promised a turning point: the Lord Himself, their true Teacher, would reveal Himself. The hidden God would be seen, guiding them into the right way. In the fuller sense, this promise found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The New Testament repeatedly calls Him Rabbi or Teacher (John 13:13). Once hidden, God revealed Himself in Christ, the Word made flesh (John 1:14). Jesus not only taught with authority but embodied the very way to the Father (John 14:6).
Has God seemed hidden to you? Seasons of adversity and affliction can make His presence feel distant. Yet this verse reminds us that God is not truly hidden. In Christ, He has revealed Himself once and for all as our Teacher. When we look to Jesus, we see the Father’s heart made visible. As Christ-followers, our task is not only to hear His words but to walk in them: “This is the way, walk in it” (v.21). When we fix our eyes on Christ, our Teacher, He guides us away from idolatry, from self-reliance, and into the path of loving obedience. We are not left to wander in the dark. The Teacher has revealed Himself, and our spiritual eyes have been opened to see Him and one day we will see Him face to face (1 Cor. 13:12).
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You are our Teacher. You are not hidden from us, but You have revealed Yourself in glory as the Word made flesh in Jesus, Your Son. Forgive us when we try to walk our own way. Open our eyes to see You more clearly and our ears to hear Your voice saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Lead us in Your truth and keep us close to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.