I often ask myself the question: Are we nearing the end of days? Are we entering into the latter part of our last seven years on earth? It is said that even the unbelievers believe that earth’s time is running out. Speculation of a brown dwarf or comet named Elenin coming our way…. What is the truth? Can we find any truth in the world nowadays? The internet is full of articles proving and disproving the very same thing. What are we to believe?
How do we separate the truth from the lie and should we even attempt to do so?
I believe that we should be different to the people in the world – we are set apart people. Set apart to and by YHVH!
We should not be blind to what is happening in the world; Y ‘shua said we shall know the season…but how are we to approach it or react to all that is happening and all that is written?
We find an answer in Isaiah but not without a warning.
The historical context is the time of King Hezekiah just before the siege of Jerusalem by King Sennacherib of Assyria. Isaiah admonishes the people not to fear and also warns them of what would happen if they do. We know from history that YHVH delivered Jerusalem from this in a supernatural way. In those days there probably were a lot of discussions as to what would happen to them if the mighty king of Assyria were to put Jerusalem under siege, just like he did previously to Israel and like he started doing in Judah. The people must have been very scared…
What were they to do at a time like this? Let us look at what YHVH said to the people through His prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 8:10–16Â
10 “Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; State a proposal, but it will not stand, For El is with us.” 11 For thus YHVH spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
13 “It is YHVH of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. 14 “Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 “Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even be snared and caught.” 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
YHVH promised in verse 10 that He will be with His people, but many refused to believe this. Here YHVH warned Isaiah not to walk in the way of this people. The way of unbelief and fear. The warning is not to fear the King of Assyria , but rather the King of the Universe: YHVH! We are also told in Deut 4:10 to fear only YHVH.
Deuteronomy 4:10
10 “Remember the day you stood before YHVH your Elohim at Horeb, when YHVH said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’
YHVH will be a sanctuary – a place of safety- to those who fear Him and believe in Him.
L.O Richards explains it well:
Fear as a sanctuary (Isa 8:10–13). Fear of YHVH is holding Him in awe; it’s respecting YHVH as One who is living, all–powerful, acting in our lives. Isaiah speaks to his own disciples (v. 16), tells them to reject the frightened speculation of their fellow countrymen about conspiracies, and remember that YHVH is holy and in control.
If we truly fear YHVH, our respect for His power will free us from fear of current dangers. Truly trust YHVH, and you will know peace.
Richards, L. O. (1991). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (417). Wheaton: Victor Books.
YHVH also said to Isaiah that He would discipline those who don’t fear Him and instead fear conspiracies and what other people fear. He said He would become a rock to stumble over and a fall and a trap. They will fall and be broken. They will even be snared and caught.
YHVH promised that those who obey Him would be blessed and those who don’t would be disciplined.
What we are given here is a revelation for any crisis. We are not to walk in the way of the people, but in the way of YHVH as His set apart people. Isaiah had a ministry to a faithful remnant as well as to the nation as a whole. Take a look again at verse 16:
“Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.”
Who are “my disciples” and who is speaking here? Is it Isaiah speaking to his disciples or could it be Y’shua speaking to us, here, now? Are you going to listen or are you going to be rebellious?
Isaiah 30:1
1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the YHVH, “Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin;
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