The Lord has been using highway numbers to teach me about the book of Isaiah for quite some time.
About half a year ago, I went with a couple of brothers to Northern California to see the Redwoods. We traveled on Interstate Highway 5 (I-5), which is literally a journey from a bleak desert to beautiful vineyards and might forests. It was quite an experience to enjoy the privilege of being taught by the Lord in such a living way. Many signs and wonders were given, I will spare your time here. I do want to mention a pertinent dream that I had around that time.
A few months ago, I was urged to ask for some insight into the nature of certain ministries. The Lord gave me two dreams. In the first one, I was led to interact with a brother in the leadership of IHOP (International House of Prayer). I don’t know his last name, but I do remember that in the dream he was called “Brother Mike” by those with him.
In the dream, I was given a tour by these brothers of a big mansion belonging to a rich and good-hearted man, who was convinced that it was good to support IHOP. The brothers treated me with great kindness and excitement and really wanted me to know of their good works for the Lord and even for me to take part in their endeavors. It is considered a great honor for me to be formally introduced to this rich man. Then we walked out of his home and began to survey the perimeters of the house while he stayed inside. My friends were very proud of the fact that they were offered free access to these properties, and were even allowed to make use of it for a good purpose. They wanted me to help to survey the land, and to tell them what to do.
The surrounding land, which is the open backyard of the rich man’s home, was overgrown with thorns and briers, so we had to make a great effort to not get hurt or entangled as we were walking. The land was impressively large and sadly wasted. I then recognized that these friends wanted me to help them to find the right spot so that they can build something for their ministry. That’s why they were so excited-it seemed that their long-awaited dream, believed to have been given by God, would finally come true. I was quiet and curious, not really knowing how to cope with this.
Now as we walked on verge of the thorny field towards a dirt trail, they were eager to stride on and rush to the big thing in their mind, of which I was given no clue. I stopped and brought them to a halt, made them quite uncomfortable-they were really some busy folks. I pointed them to a cluster of wild grapes on the ground, which was the only piece of fruit in the whole wasted land. I bent down a bit as they all watched, and began to take time to pick up one grape from the cluster as if trying to tell them to slow down with me. I put it into my mouth and tasted it. They were looking at me a bit puzzled and curious now.
I nodded back and said, “Not so bad. A bit of sour and a bit of sweet. After all, it is a wild vine.” My friends were happy to see me enjoying myself, but now they were becoming quite self-conscious, even apologetic, for the recognition that this was the best they could offer. Now as I recall that moment, they were also coming to an understanding that all along I was never interested in their plans. They also realized that my purpose towards them had been very clear. I wanted them to know that they needed to stop their busyness and the pursuit of visions of vanity. The land that had been given to them was a wasteland, worthy of nothing, and could produce nothing.
As I was pondering on this dream in the following day, the Lord brought me directly to Isaiah 65:8-25, which was amazing- as He had been speaking to me about Isaiah 11 for quite sometime before that.
Recently, He began to speak to me about Isaiah 5 again.
How wonderful it is that we can be taught by Him and be preserved from many fruitless things!
Actually, at this very moment, the Lord tells me that He wanted to share this dream openly with others for a particular work of repentance in the midst of those who are serving Him. He needs no riches of the world to build His Kingdom. We each need to make sure that we have, deeply in our hearts, taken hold of this truth.
