Isaiah 18

Isaiah 18:1-2 (ESV)

Ah, land of whirring wings

that is beyond the rivers of Cush,

which sends ambassadors by the sea,

in vessels of papyrus on the waters!

Go, you swift messengers,

to a nation tall and smooth,

to a people feared near and far,

a nation mighty and conquering,

whose land the rivers divide.

God’s judgment is coming against the enemies of his people. They are warned to flee for help. Yet even those to whom they flee will one day pay tribute to the LORD.

Isaiah 18:7 (ESV)

At that time tribute will be brought to the LORD of hosts

from a people tall and smooth,

from a people feared near and far,

a nation mighty and conquering,

whose land the rivers divide,

to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the LORD of hosts.

We fear those of other religions, especially Islam. It is a violent religion opposed to all that we believe. Yet our fear often has more to do with fearing change and losing personal peace and comfort than anything else. When God is at work personal peace and comfort are almost always sacrificed for the greater good. Paul was called to move from the comfort of being a respected Jewish leader to being an Apostle to the Gentiles. Abraham was called to move from the comfort of his home and family to a land that God would show him. Noah was called to move from the comfort of normal life to build the Ark. If we fear the loss of our personal peace and comfort, then our values and priorities are wrong to start with.

The world is driven by its own values and priorities. God’s advice is that if they are not going to follow him, then they need to chase after their own security because his judgment is coming. His warning, however, is that they will not succeed. Ultimately every means of security, significance, and satisfaction the world chases after will fail them. The Lord says that in the end, “Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom 14:11). The wealthy and powerful, the violent and zealous, the devious and deceptive will all one day bow before God. Every god the world chases after will ultimately kneel before him. Deuteronomy 10:17 reminds us that, “the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God.” There is none beside him.

As believers, we have a choice. We can choose to let our fear, our comfort, and our convenience drive us, or we can choose to live by faith. Either way God will accomplish his purpose, but what will we say when we stand before him and have to admit that we really didn’t trust him? What will we say when the very ones we feared are kneeling beside us giving honor to the God we weren’t quite sure could take care of us? Where is our faith? “The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God” (Dt 10:17) before whom every knee shall bow … and every tongue shall confess.” (Rom 14:11). He is God. Trust him.