Terrible Torches – Isaiah 50:10,11

Ever heard of nyctophobia?  “Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of night or darkness that can cause intense symptoms of anxiety and depression. A fear becomes a phobia when it’s excessive, irrational, or impacts your day-to-day life.”  God addresses through His prophet Isaiah a kind of nyctophobia all of us suffer from.

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant?  Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.  Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches!  Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled!  This you have from my hand:  you shall lie down in torment.   (Isaiah 50:10-11 ESV)

Jesus taught, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

This is the same message taught by Isaiah.  When we are in darkness we are tempted to light a fire, to come up with a light of our own to make our pathway clear.  Our torch might consist of making money, or finding a relationship, or using our wits, or hardening our hearts.  Whatever it is, it is a light of our own devising that keeps us from having to trust in God.  In the end, we will lie down in torment from God’s hand.

But if we trust in Yahweh and obey the voice of his servant Jesus, we need not kindle our own fire.  We can walk in the darkness, unable to see our next step but know that God is with us and He can see quite clearly.  Even the darkness is light to Him and He will guide us.

Discussion Questions

1. How old were you when you stopped being afraid of the dark, or are you still?
2. Is it wrong to be afraid of the dark?
3. What are the kinds of darkness God is talking about in this passage?
4. What is wrong with kindling a fire to stave off this darkness?
5. What does kindling a fire mean in these situations of darkness?
6. How can you choose to walk with God in the dark situation you are facing?