"The Lord spoke to me with His strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people." Isaiah 8:11
This passage is specifically referring to the Assyrians. As I read Isaiah 8 again and again, I could not help but think that the Assyrians represent the way of this world. This people as verse 8 refers to them, are fascinated and swayed by this world. They believe in conspiracies, they seek out mediums and spiritists, they have rejected the Only One True God and have sought the gods of this world. Why? Because they do not like what God says so they invent ways to do as they please.
Oh, we should have compassion for their weakness. But caution. Why? Because they will draw you in. Draw you into illicit relationships, draw you into substance abuse, draw you into drama and disillusion. When the Lord puts His hand on us and warns us, take heed. For the liar, our enemy is behind this worldly plot to seduce us into its web. The pride of life and the lust of the eyes and flesh are extremely tempting. We must seek the Lord and turn away from these things; the materialism and the popularity things, the things that are advertised and promoted as the solutions to all our troubles. He alone is our answer.
Reach out to this people, but do not go with them. Do not hang with them. Invite them to hang with you where you should be. I am reminded of a cartoon where a cat smells the aroma of the catnip and is actually lifted off his feet and swept away by its temptation only to discover that there is a dog at the end of the aroma. Learn to discern that not everything that smells sweet is beautiful or good. Many sweet things are bitter in the end. They eventually stink and leave you with regrets and heartache far greater than the momentary satisfaction you may have gotten by following them.
Today, desire Him. Desire His ways. Desire His truth. Follow Him, wholeheartedly. He will lead you into His peace and satisfaction.
In His Loving Arms,
Pastor Fred
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