This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.”
(Isaiah 8:11-13 NIV)
I’m sure you’ve overheard them, too. Those frenzied conversations of people overwhelmed by incessant streams of media. I think the media feeds on fear. People desperately surf every platform for more information about the events of the day that plague us—as if that will calm our anxious minds. However, rather than answers, we often run into a quagmire of fake news or conspiracy theories—never truly knowing who or what to believe.
But Christians are not to be like them. We aren’t to behave like unbelievers.
That was the case in Isaiah’s day. There was a lot of buzz about Assyria. There was talk about the kings of Aram forming an alliance against Assyria (Isaiah 7-8). There was talk about Assyria conquering Syria. And there was talk about Assyria capturing northern Israel. The people all around Isaiah were buzzing. But God “placed a strong hand upon” Isaiah when He spoke firmly with him about all that talk. In essence, God told him, “Don’t be like them.” And Isaiah was to share that message with Judah—in the face of their own fears about Assyria.
The rationale God provided in verse 14 is key: God “will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” God is a holy place. But it was also prophetically foretold of their potential for stumbling over Him.
There was a similar buzz in Jesus’ day. And Peter’s. And Paul’s. In fact, both Peter and Paul quoted Isaiah 8:14. Of course, they were referring to Jesus—because many got tripped up over Jesus.
Jesus is either or. He’s either a rock of salvation. Or a rock of stumbling to those who reject Him.
To the persecuted Christians in Asia, Peter wrote, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:14-15).
Jesus, enduring persecution Himself, preached this to His disciples: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Jesus followers need not have disordered fear.
The sovereign Lord of Hosts is our refuge, our sanctuary, our hiding place. He is our strong tower, our fortress, our courage and peace. Feel His strong hand upon you.
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