Isaiah 5-8: What do you fear? The second weekend in August I am doing a retreat here at our home entitled Fear Not. As I read this passage today I could not help but think of how God is reminding us what not to fear.
8:11 “For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12’Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken’.”
Isaiah lived in a time when there were wars and rumors of wars all around them. There was indeed conspiring and conflict all around. God’s children had walked away and were headed shortly into captivity. And yet God was saying, don’t fear these things. Fear God and turn back to Him.
What a great word for us today. We are to fear, respect, revere God and His Son Jesus above any earthly thing. If we get Him right He will handle everything else. Judah had seen this happen. They had seen an army of 158,000 leave after holding them hostage. God had caused them to return to their country. You would think they would honor God and follow Him alone, but they were much like us. Our memories fade and our fleshly desires increase.
The hidden prophecy in this passage of the rock of stumbling is speaking of Jesus. He indeed was a stumbling stone and yet He was the cornerstone of our salvation! He was and is the only hope of Peace.