Conspiracies and Fear of God – Isaiah 8:11-19

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was a British puppet, the Armenians fabricated their own genocide to get aid, the Catholic Church and the Jesuits assassinated Lincoln at the Pope’s request, and the British baited the US into World War I. These are just a few of the political conspiracies that have been created. Conspiracies like this seem inevitable. Isaiah is being warned by Yahweh not to be caught up in the conspiracy fears of his people.

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: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And 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. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?  (Isaiah 8:11-19 ESV)

Yahweh warns Isaiah not to follow in the ways of Israel, worried about political conspiracies instead of about their relationship to God.  In contrast, Isaiah is to honor Yahweh as holy and fear Him instead of conspiracies.  If he does this God will be his sanctuary, his place of refuge and security, and at the same time God will become to unbelievers an offense and cause of stumbling.  They will refuse to submit to Him and trip over Him and be irreparably broken.

Those who do believe should heed the revelation (testimony) He has given them and wait for Yahweh to act.  Currently, He is hiding His face from Israel and judgment is impending.  He has used Isaiah and his children as signs to Israel but they have not heeded.  They prefer to consult mediums and necromancers, spiritists who seek to contact the dead.  He asks, “Should not Israel inquire of their God?”  He is the God of the living. Any attempts to find truth elsewhere than Him is outright rebellion.

Discussion Questions

1. When have you felt the Lord’s strong hand upon you?
2. Why do you think people are so attracted to political conspiracies?
3. Why should Christians not be attracted to political conspiracies?
4. What makes God a stone who is protection to some and a stone others stumble over?
5. What does inquiring of God mean for you?
6. In what way has God called you to wait for Him?