Oasis in the Desert (Isaiah 28:11-12; 1 Corinthians 14:21; Acts 2:13; Ephesians 5:18)

Isaiah 28:11-12 says, "...for with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, 'This is the rest by which you may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing'..."

What is key to this passage, is that it is quoted in the NT, in 1 Corinthians 14:21, referring to speaking in other tongues. [languages]

STAMMERING - The meaning of this word is to mock or deride someone, specifically, someone of another language. The thought is that the mocker imitates the speech of another who is foreign to them, and thus produces the "stammering" affect in their mockery.

Specific to this text, is that the leaders of Israel were found to consume themselves in wine and strong drink (28:1,7), so God said He would speak to them through foreigners, whose speech would mimic Israel's own drunk stammering.

This reinforces the NT scriptures, which parallel speaking in other tongues[languages], with being drunk with wine.

Acts 2:13, "Others, mocking, said, 'These men are full of new wine.'"

Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit,..."

REST - The first word translated "rest", originally referred to a bird lighting on something, which resulted in a cessation of activity; motion; effort, at the moment the bird "rested" it's feet on the place.

REST - The second word translated "rest", originally meant to "draw breath", and then "to cause camels to kneel down", or "the place where camels lie down", and "pitching camp".

The significant difference between the two words, is that the first refers to

1) the stopping of some action, while the second refers to

2) what happens once that action has stopped.

WEARY - This word refers specifically to those who are weary due to a lack of water.

REFRESHING - This word refers to being satisfied with food and water, but again, in this passage, water is what is directly implied.

This passage is set in the imagery of travelling through the desert. A person is suffering from thirst, but they come to a place of rest, an oasis, and there they unburden their camels, "catch" or "draw" a breath, and cease from the toilsome journey that they have been on. They are refreshed, and camp there, in the middle of the desert.

There are several strong images in this context, such as being thirsty, but being satisfied, not with wine, but with the refreshing water of the Holy Spirit, through praying in other tongues. Not only so, but being able to unburden oneself, just like a camel kneeling down to rest, from the toil of the journey, and to be at rest, no matter that one is surrounded by desert.

All of this imagery vividly illustrates the effects of praying in the spirit [tongues], in our lives. Praying in other tongues[languages] is the "rest".

The other strong exhortation regarding praying in the spirit, is that entering into a place of rest, signified two important things, in OT scripture:

1) Possessing the promised land.

2) Deliverance from your enemies.

Through praying in other tongues, not only do we enter into a place of rest, irregardless of the circumstances, but it is a dynamic key for us possessing the promises of God, and walking in total victory and deliverance from our enemies.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.