Who Are "The Wayfaring Men" In Isaiah 35:8?

Several years ago, an individual asked me about who "the wayfaring men" were in Isaiah 35:8 KJV. I told him that the very next verse would answer his question:
"No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon; it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there" (Isaiah 35:9).
Thus, the wayfaring men are the "redeemed."

In expanding on the above answer, let us note the phrase "a way" in Isaiah 35:8 KJV and then note the phrase, "It shall be called The way of holiness ....." Now note Jesus' teaching in John 14:6 KJV that He is "the way." We learn that Christians in the first century were those who taught "the way" (God's way  Acts 18:25-26 KJV). We also learn that Christians were of "the way" in Acts 24:14 KJV.

Let us now note that the "highway" described in Isaiah 35:8 KJV, is called "The way of holiness." In looking at 2 Peter 2:21 KJV, we see a similar description in the phrase, "the way of righteousness." In the New Testament, Christianity is called a "way" because it is God's course or path to follow, and it is a "way of righteousness" because righteousness characterizes those "redeemed" who walk in it (Isaiah 35:8-9 KJV).

Now, let's go back to the phrase, "wayfaring men" and note that they are classified as "fools" in the latter part of Isaiah 35:8 KJV. In 1 Corinthians 4:10 KJV, Paul declares that "We are fools for Christ's sake" and they literally were, according to man's worldly philosophy and view (Acts 17:18 KJV). Though the "redeemed" were classified as "fools" by the world, note that these "fools, shall not err therein" (Isaiah 35:8 KJV).

They wouldn't "err" from the "way," because they would be faithful obedient followers of Christ and His teachings (cf. Matthew 11:25-27; 1 Corinthians 1:26-28). They were among the "redeemed" (1 Peter 1:18 KJV)  those saints who were purchased by the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19 KJV)  those "redeemed" who would make up the church of our Lord (Acts 20:28 KJV; cf. Ephesians 1:7-14; Colossians 1:12-18; Hebrews 9:11-15 KJV).

Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

Comments