Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear … The way of peace they have not known. Isaiah 59:1–2, 8 NKJV
The book of Isaiah speaks often about peace, starting with the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6 and closing with “peace like a river” in Isaiah 66:12. These are beautiful references, but in between there are many passages like the one above. The Lord has declared the sins of the house of Jacob (58:1), and here He makes it plain that He is quite able to deliver them. There is no lack in His ability to reach them, though they are far from Him. There is nothing wrong with His ability to hear them if they would call upon Him in truth. Yet they have chosen a different course. They are unwilling to forsake their sins, and this causes Him to hide His face and refuse to hear their false prayers. The hindrance lies entirely with them, and thus they do not know the way of peace.
Later, this passage is quoted in Romans 3 to show that this problem is not limited to ancient Israel. It is the experience of Gentiles and Jews alike, the natural condition of our hearts. What would it be like to find not only peace but the way of peace! To walk with the Prince of Peace, to enjoy peace like a river—what satisfaction! Yet this peace eludes us as long as we refuse God’s invitation to return to Him.
But God, who is rich in mercy, is determined to address our hopelessness. Jesus the Savior has visited us from on high “to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lk. 1:79). The God of the Bible not only knows where the way of peace can be found, but He guides us to it. If you cannot find this peace, do not despair. The Lord of Peace Himself will show the way (2 Th. 3:16).