Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.
God hedges up a person's way with thorns by using providential hardships to block a chosen course, preventing further ruin and bringing the person to submission and repentance. The hindrance combines judgment with mercy to turn restless flight from duty back toward repentance. God can obstruct a chosen course to turn a person toward truth, as in the case of the husband of Emma Sturges who long opposed the Sabbath and, after being brought to poverty, was softened and subdued until ready to submit to its claims. The verse also illustrates God providentially blocking a planned course for protection, where an apparent obstacle prevents danger and directs people to make the best use of their circumstances.
In one application, the hedged-up way means being kept from traveling to other countries to preach held truths because doing so would cost liberty and eventually life. The obstacle is a reason to work contentedly where providence opens the way rather than push ahead and leave a family without a protector. The Lord may hedge up the way as a sign of displeasure when people's own actions bring about a harmful condition, frustrating their course so they cannot proceed. Such self-caused hindrances can burden workers in distant missionary fields, so the closed way calls for seeking the Lord's guidance and discerning how to act.
The way becomes hedged up when people keep waiting for conditions to suit their convenience and plans, which does not mean opportunity was lacking. When a determined effort is made the Lord works with it, but continued delay can leave the way blocked until time closes. The phrase about not finding the paths describes how prejudice and actions that deepen suspicion obstruct efforts to reach people and close doors to them.
God hedges up a person's way with thorns by using providential hardships to block a chosen course, preventing further ruin and bringing the person to submission and repentance. The hindrance combines judgment with mercy to turn restless flight from duty back toward repentance. God can obstruct a chosen course to turn a person toward truth, as in the case of the husband of Emma Sturges who long opposed the Sabbath and, after being brought to poverty, was softened and subdued until ready to submit to its claims. The verse also illustrates God providentially blocking a planned course for protection, where an apparent obstacle prevents danger and directs people to make the best use of their circumstances.
In one application, the hedged-up way means being kept from traveling to other countries to preach held truths because doing so would cost liberty and eventually life. The obstacle is a reason to work contentedly where providence opens the way rather than push ahead and leave a family without a protector. The Lord may hedge up the way as a sign of displeasure when people's own actions bring about a harmful condition, frustrating their course so they cannot proceed. Such self-caused hindrances can burden workers in distant missionary fields, so the closed way calls for seeking the Lord's guidance and discerning how to act.
The way becomes hedged up when people keep waiting for conditions to suit their convenience and plans, which does not mean opportunity was lacking. When a determined effort is made the Lord works with it, but continued delay can leave the way blocked until time closes. The phrase about not finding the paths describes how prejudice and actions that deepen suspicion obstruct efforts to reach people and close doors to them.