“Just because you are not paranoid, doesn’t mean they are not out to get you!” Have you heard that? Conspiracy theories abound. Does this reveal the pervasive distrust in our culture? Because we do not fear the Lord, we fear most everything.
The Lord revealed his thoughts about conspiracy theories to Isaiah. Ever since Isaiah heard the Lord ask, “Whom shall I send?” he had been listening for God’s voice. With a strong hand on Isaiah’s shoulder he reminded him not to follow the way of the people or be afraid of the presumed conspiracies the people feared. Instead, Isaiah was to fear the Lord Almighty who is holy. This sounds like Jesus in Matthew 10 telling his disciples not to fear those who can kill the body, but the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).
The Lord is a holy place, a rock that causes some to stumble. Isaiah wrote the words God gave him. His choice teaches us the posture of waiting on the Lord and trusting him. Then Isaiah took his stand with the children God has given him. They would be signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty who dwelt in Mount Zion. This sounds like Joshua saying, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).
The story is told of an old prophet who stood day after day declaring God’s judgment on the sinful choices of the people in his country. One day, an inquisitive little boy asked him, “Why do you keep preaching against the sins of your people. It is not working. They are not changing.” The preacher responded, “Son, I am not preaching to change my people, but to keep myself from entering into the same sins.” If we fear the Lord, we will not fear anything else in this world.
