The Lord was hiding his face from Judah, but Isaiah chose to wait on the Lord and hope in Him. He would see the Lord’s goodness. Those who refuse to wait on the Lord to be their help will end up angry at God for letting them down.

We have another reminder in Isaiah 8 that no amount of plotting can accomplish a thing against God’s people outside the Lord’s permission.

Verse ten says, “Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.”

We just need to know God is with us. And it needs to be true, of course! Walking in relationship with God, knowing the nearness of His presence, the fullness of His love and joy is the answer to your problems. He will lead you in the right way. He is righteous in all He does. He literally cannot make a wrong turn or He’d cease being God.

There’s some advice for those who want to be in the Lord’s presence. It’s found in verses twelve and thirteen. “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.”

We’re to honor God as holy by fearing Him only. Fearing something else is giving it more power in your life than God. Fearing something is not trusting God is in control, can act in any situation, and is good and loving. Give Him your life and you can trust He’s got it all figured out perfectly.

I wanted to look at one last verse in chapter 8. It’s verse six. Here’s part of it. “The people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently.” God provided gently flowing water for His people and they refused it. This is the water that Jesus sends the blind man to wash in to receive his sight. God provided the waters that flow gently, but we refuse. But if we receive the waters, we can let them flow through us bringing God’s healing to the nations.