The Conspiracy

Prophets were often accused of conspiring with enemy forces.  Isaiah was no different.  Isaiah was involved in a conspiracy, but not with the enemy of Israel or Judah.  He was in a conspiracy with the LORD of hosts.  That is “The Conspiracy” I write of in this article.  If preachers are to be the men of God we have been called to be we will be accused at times of conspiring against our church, our people, and sometimes even accused of going against tradition, when we really are not.

The prophet Isaiah is told by God, “not to walk in the way of this people”.  When our people are going astray, when they are living out of the will of the LORD, when they are in feuds with one another, when they are charging the preacher of conspiracy, then is the time for that preacher to stand and preach like he has never preached the Word before.  It is not the time to back down.

Hear the Word of the LORD spoken to Isaiah:

“For the LORD spoke thus to me with His strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, ‘Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.  But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall regard as holy.  Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.  And He will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  And many shall stumble on it.  They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”  Isaiah 8:11-15  (ESV).

The prophet is being directed by the LORD to have no walk in the way of his people.  They were actually accusing this man of God of conspiring with the enemy, and they wanted to pronounce judgment upon this man Isaiah. 

As I look as this passage of Scripture I find myself wondering, “What did they fear?”, “What did they dread?”  Were they fearing the dreaded enemy that they had heard was coming?  It seems to me that they were probably fearing the failure of the economy.  The failure of their insurance policies, ie., their walls.  They may have been more fearful of their health failing them as well.  What ever they feared Isaiah is told not to fear the same things, but rather to “Regard as holy” Him who is speaking to the prophet.  He is assured that God will be his sanctuary – a place of protection and solitude. 

The prophet is also told “Let Him (ie., God) be your fear, and let Him be your dread”.  The only hope anyone has is in the LORD.  It does no one any good whatsoever to fear and dread anything that is human, or thing, or thought, or act of another.  We have absolutely no control over other’s lives; but God does.

We can stand assured by God and His Word that those who stand against God, His Word, and His men will find a Rock of offense, they will stumble, they shall fall, and be broken.  If there is a conspiracy among the men of God; let “The Conspiracy” be that we are faithful to God, His Word, and His way.  Let us be faithful in proclaiming the Word, warning the people, encouraging the people who are weary, comforting the afflicted; and afflicting the comfortable.