Text: Isaiah 7:1-25, Isaiah 8:1-22, Hebrews 9:24, 1 Peter 1:14-16
I’ll be the first to admit that when I read a book like Isaiah, I immediately want to understand all the history. As a former world history teacher, I really should already have this stuff down pat, but I don’t. So I dug back into my old lesson plans to see what I could rediscover about Assyria.
Historians suspect that the world’s first organized society developed in the “cradle of civilization” between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (modern-day Iraq and Syria). It was fertile land, easy to farm, and smack-dab in the middle of the biggest landmass in the world. If you wanted to be a farmer, a businessman, or a conqueror, you couldn’t find a better jumping-off point. That’s why over the centuries, so many different empires fought to claim that land. None were as strong or ambitious as the Assyrians; their empire was the first to make militarism the central policy of state.
Around the time of Isaiah, Assyrians were on the warpath. They’d already amassed a great amount of land to the north and east, and had their sights on Egypt. God’s people were literally right in the way. In addition to that, the kingdom of Israel had fractured into two pieces: Judah in the south and Israel in the north. At just the time when God’s people needed to be strong and unified against a foreign threat, they were deeply divided. At the beginning of Isaiah chapter 7, we’re told that the king of Judah and all of his people were afraid for their lives. They had two enemies to contend with, Assyria and Israel. In many ways, they felt surrounded, defenseless.
And yet, they were not alone. In the midst of these harrowing geopolitical circumstances, Isaiah told the people of Judah, “Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid” (Isaiah 7:4). Isaiah also makes a strange promise: the people would receive a sign that God was still good. A virgin would give birth to a child and His name would be Immanuel—God with us (v.14).
The rest of the prophecy was hardly pretty poetry. Judah saw Assyria as an enemy, and as Isaiah explained, God planned to use that enemy to accomplish His purposes. Egyptians were like flies, Assyrians were like bees—and they were coming to infest the land. Assyria would be a like a razor that arrived to cut off all of God’s people’s hair, leaving them in humiliation (v.20). With that as their future, how could the people of God be careful, keep calm, and remain unafraid? How was God with them?
God is with us, even in calamity. Our fear is not proof that our God is absent.
So often I want an Isaiah in my life. I want someone to come and tell me specifically what’s going to happen this year, next year, and the year after that. I want details. Dates. Times. I want a sign. In reading today’s passages, I realize that even if I got what I wanted—even if someone like Isaiah really did come to tell me what was to come—it might only lead to more confusion. It would likely only lead to fear of my circumstances, rather than fear of my Lord.
Perhaps all I really need to hear are the promises. Perhaps all I need to do is wait.
You are to regard only the Lord of Hosts as holy.
Only He should be feared;
Only He should be held in awe.
He will be your sanctuary.
– Isaiah 8:13-14
Claire Gibson is a freelance writer and editor whose work has been featured both locally and nationally in publications including The Washington Post, and Entrepreneur Magazine. An Army kid who grew up at West Point, New York, Claire is currently growing roots in Nashville, Tennessee. She loves her husband, Patrick, and their dog, Winnie.
Be determined to wait. It doesn’t always come easily. At least, not for me. Waiting is hard when I feel like a storm is coming. I’m used to preparing. However, I could be preparing for something that never reaches me.
Very well said! How many storms have we prepared for that we never should have feared? I’m struggling to wait for God’s plan and timing in my own life right now, and your statement spoke straight to my heart.
We’ve all experienced the sudden hurricanes of darkness. They come in the form of a pink slip, a diagnosis, a midnight phone call. The darkness descends and we cannot take the next breath. Our mind swirls. Our imagination goes to even darker places. When the initial shock begins to wear off, we people of the Cross default to Isaiah’s words : “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light ; a light has dawned on those living in the darkness.”. In our dark nights of the soul, we still have the Light. And where there is Light, darkness dies. Hope rises. Strength returns. We can breathe. Praying for all of us who need to be reminded of this today. Hold on. Be still. Know He is God and He is there. His Light shines. This darkness will pass. It has no choice. It has no option. The Light wins. Every time.
Amen to these truths.
Beautifully stated. Amen.
Amen ❤
Love your words. Brought comfort to me
Thank you so much for these words. I am trying to see the light through the darkness today. Hope rises. The light wins. Thank you Jesus.
This devotional was so soothing to my soul. Just like Claire writes, I so often want someone to tell me that x, y & z are going to happen. I want to know, and I want to know NOW what my future holds. But that’s not the way God has designed our hope. Our hope is not in knowing we are going to get the things we want, or even in knowing what perils await us. We only can hope in God’s good promises and fear our Creator. Patience, surrender, and trust are the three words I feel the Spirit has laid on my heart today. Thankful for God’s mercy.
Kellie, those three words (patience, surrender, trust) are exactly what I feel as though I am lacking during a season of unemployment. I have a strong vocational calling, and I have been frustrated and even angry that I am not able to put it to use at this present moment. Today I will pray for patience, trust, and surrender to my Father’s plan for my career.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for always showing me and revealing to me exactly what I need. You are enough. You are all I need. Help me to be obedient. Help me to not be conformed to my old ways. You are holy. Make me holy. May I be transformed by what you teach me and by the Holy Spirit in me, so that I can stand the test and rest in your plan and sovereignty. I trust in your perfect will. I stand in awe of you, waiting for the day when all is made clear. Until then, may I praise you more and more, and shine your light in the darkness. Amen.
Isaiah 8:9-10 Just hit me that the Lord is telling them (Judah) to do nothing in response to the approaching and encroaching enemies (Assyria or Israel) because He has the upper hand. “Don’t make a plan or prediction. Don’t prepare for war unless you want to be broken.” Verse 11 then reminds them that they are to fear the Lord and He alone. Not the armies advancing or the thought of their destruction or the loss of a kingdom. But the Lord. God is with us. Whom shall we fear?
Father God, hear the cries of your daughter, Stephanie. Allows her to feel the presence of Your overwhelming love for her. Heal her internal scars Father God. We know Father, she is perfect in Your eyes. May she know Father that is all she needs, no other opinion matters but Yours Lord. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Praying with you Debbie… May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify us through and through. We Stand firm in your faith.
Amen
Today’s message was just what I needed to hear- be careful, be calm and don’t be afraid- as an obedient child of God- staying obedient and not conforming to my former ignorance is hard – I have been down that road- I would much rather hold onto the faithfulness of God. So I wait- after 9 months separated from my husband- I will wait for God, I will hope in him.
Praying for you sister and your marriage.
I am really struggling to trust God because I recently had a difficult and traumatic experience that’s changed my body physically, maybe for good. I am having trouble healing emotionally from the experience. While I know that God will use this for my good, and I do love him. and I know I should trust him, I truly am not. I guess it is good to be honest about that. I am praying that I can grow closer to God and that this experience will refine my faith.
Praying for you, Stephanie.
Praying as well! You are strong and God is by your side!
Praying for healing in mind, body and spirit Stephanie. Sometimes what life and God hand us is difficult to process and handle. May He be with you and walk you through this difficult time so that you may heal, know and trust Him and his plan and come out better than before.