Author: Ofer Amitai, Messianic pastor Jerusalem and Director of Israel Prayer Centre

Isaiah 18:4 [For so] the LORD says to me: “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” (NIV)

Chapters 13 to 23 in Isaiah, as indeed all of scripture, reveal a God who is in perfect sovereign control of events on the earth. No matter what the nations are doing, and no matter what it looks like to us, God is sovereignly directing as He pleases, to the fulfillment of His purposes.

To the Ethiopian emissaries who came rushing to Jerusalem to seek to ally against the coming Assyrians, God says, “Go back and tell your people: “I see it, I am at rest. I will take care of it before the threat comes to fruition.” It is also a warning to Judah to trust in God alone.

And so, indeed, God did take care of it. Sennacherib’s army met its end in one night, and Jerusalem (and the nations around) were delivered, at least for a time.

How apt we are to get agitated, stirred up in our soul, in times of uncertainty, of shakings and danger, whether on a personal, national, or even global level.

Somehow our sense of security and wellbeing goes out the window, and we respond to such times with fear, much doing and fussing and talking. Often our response is a panicked “storming of heaven,” in a sort of emergency mode of prayer in great agitation. We are in danger of moving in our flesh at such times, to our great loss and detriment. (Read Isaiah 30 to see the consequences of moving in the flesh.)

But there is a better way if only we would heed God’s counsel and wisdom.

Is. 30:15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

Note here who is speaking: The Sovereign LORD! The Holy One! Of Israel – your covenant God.

His message: Your salvation and deliverance will be found in turning to Me (repentance.) It will be found in calming your soul and in waiting patiently for My deliverance. In quieting yourself and trusting in Me, will be your strength to overcome (so the Hebrew.)

How shall we apply God’s counsel given through Isaiah? Paul can help us here.

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Phil. 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Phil. 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Phil. 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God is utterly sufficient for all of life and all of need for now and for eternity. The Word of God is wholly sufficient to give us all the light, guidance, faith, and strength we need for a life of overcoming.

But we have to do it, to live it, to obey its instructions.

Will we? Will you?

Ofer

Touches: In Repentance and Trust

Author: Ofer Amitai, Messianic pastor Jerusalem and Director of Israel Prayer Centre

19th November 2021