Fear and Hope

Tragedy and Hope
Isaiah 6-10
“The People who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”
The circumstances that surrounded Isaiah as he started his public ministry were a time of turbulence. The Assyrians were beginning to put military pressure in the region as they sought to exert and expand their power. The Northern tribes of Israel and their capital, Samaria, were under threat. As they sought to obtain security and protection from the threat, they revealed their true rebellion against God. Instead of turning to God, they turned to spiritual charlatans who said what they wanted to hear but did not call them back to God (8:19-20). Even though God sent Isaiah to call the people back to obedience, the people would continue in their rebellion and refuse to listen (6:9-13). Instead of finding peace, they became gripped with fear. Yet here was the irony. The one fear they should have was the fear of the Lord, which was the one fear they rejected. They feared the Assyrians more than they feared God.  

As we look at our culture, we see the same response. People ignore God and His Word, instead we only listen to spiritual leaders who tell us what we want to hear. We seek affirmation rather than transformation. As a result, we also become consumed by fear, seeing a conspiracy behind every event and every political party. We have become a culture of fear, in which we become fearful of the present and the future. We fear those in power, and we fear those who might rise to power. We become driven by fear. However, in our anxiety about the events in the world and in our country, instead of turning back to God, we continue to reject God. Instead of protecting the ones that need justice and protection the most (the unborn), we turn our backs on them under the guise of “my body, my choice.” We take advantage of the most vulnerable in our society, and turn our eyes from the needs of the poor and the widows.  

Even though Isaiah begins his ministry under the foreboding cloud of rebellion and judgment, he offers the light of hope. Even though it seems as if the future is hopeless, we find the prophecies of one who would come to bring hope and salvation not only to the nation of Israel but to all humanity. In 7:10-16, the promise is given of a child being born. It is implied that this child will be in the line of David (vs 13) and that he will not just be a human king, but he will be Immanuel—“God with us.”  In 9:1-7, another prophecy is proclaimed, one that is far more clear. The child will not only come from the line of David, but he will reign forever on David's throne. These two prophecies were the first hint in Isaiah of a final messianic king who would establish His kingdom forever. Throughout the rest of the book, more prophecies about the king will be woven in, all of which find their fulfillment in Christ. In a time of turmoil and judgment, God will not completely abandon His people but will provide one who will bring salvation and an eternal kingdom. These prophecies became the hope of Israel. They also become our hope as well. As we see the turmoil in our world, as we fear the present and the future, there is hope and security found in Christ. When we realize that Christ is in control and He is establishing His kingdom in the present through His spiritual presence in the church and as in the future when He returns to establish His physical kingdom on earth, then we no longer need to fear. We no longer need to follow the wisdom of the world. Jesus was the hope for Israel, and He is the hope for us today. When life becomes dark and foreboding and seems insecure and uncertain, we need to remember that Christ will return. The question is not whether His word is certain; the question is whether we are ready for His return by surrendering our lives to Him in the present. If we do that, then we can live without fear, no matter what the circumstances are.