Isaiah 7

Isaiah 7:8-9 NIV

for the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all.

Aram and Israel have conspired together against Judah. Israel and Judah together make up the Chosen People of God. They should at least be allies but Israel has rejected her God. This threat has turned Judah's heart to jello. They are extremely frightened. God responds, "The head of ___________ is only ..." "The head of Damascus is only Rezin ... the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son."

These are just people. God is still God. Too often we are intimidated by people because of their demeanor, their size, their volume or their position and posture. Intimidating people can only intimidate if we allow them to. Intimidating people can take over a church business meeting or a Bible study. Intimidating people can fill us with fear. Intimidating people can manipulate and coerce us into doing that which we know is not right.

Intimidating circumstances can overwhelm us. Debt can be intimidating. Illness can be intimidating. Government processes, policies, procedures and systems can be intimidating. A task to which God has called us can be intimidating. We need to remember that people are just people. Stuff is just stuff. Circumstances are just circumstances. God never stops being God and he will work his purpose. We are in His hands. Even death stops being intimidating when we rest our hope in Him.

Father, I confess that I have too often sucumbed to intimdation and fear. You are my hope and peace. Today may I rest in you. All else is temporary.

By His grace,
Rick Weinert
District Superintendent
EFCA Northern Mtn District