UPDATE: I was floored by how many of you jumped into the classroom and participated in this assignment! (As of noon Monday, several hundred have yet to be moderated but you’ll see them posted soon.) Your papers were FABULOUS. You did exactly what we hoped. You gave the assignment thought and authenticity. My tremendously busy weekend only afforded me a perusal but I look so forward to getting deeper into the stack. You are amazing women. You blow my mind over and over. I wish so much you could all have been at staff prayer today because each coworker brought her homework for us to discuss. We also had a particularly fun and unique translation addition (remember how you were to check 3 translations?)Â because I asked Melissa if she’d read it to us in Hebrew. We got such a charge out of it. It truly was beautiful. To me, one of the most intriguing insights from many of your papers was the varied forms fleeing can take. Those differences were also articulated in our staff circle today. Running takes all sorts of forms, doesn’t it, Sisters? Here’s what we can know: Only when we’re fleeing from God can the enemy catch us. And even then, if we’re in Christ, he cannot have us. Nor can he keep us. Our God be praised. Gotta get back to work! Bible study tomorrow night! I love you, Sisters! And I think about you daily. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!!
Happy Friday, you wonderful things!
As soon as I push publish on this post, I’ll be heading out the door to the airport. I have a Life Today taping this weekend for the Wednesday program. (Two sessions tonight. Two in the morning.) Please pray for Jesus to fill us, teach us, heal us, and thrill us and that the group will be greatly responsive. Thank you! I do not know where I’d be without prayer. What I’m asking for in this Bible study ministry as a whole is something only Jesus can do. I need Him so much.
OK! So, this morning God impressed something on me in prayer time that I became convinced over the next hour He wanted me to share also with you. It’s coming in the way of a homework assignment I want to offer to any of you who’d like to participate. I have to be sparing in my words this morning because I have very little time but my heart is tremendously enlarged over it.
Here’s the ground rule: Please complete your assignment without reading any of the comments. Let’s resist any comparison or competition. Everybody who participates gets an A+. So you’re not tempted and so that you don’t get well into the assignment and lose your connection and your work, do it first on a Word document or the equivalent and then copy and paste it into your comment. I’m not looking for smart or scholarly sounding responses or ones that demonstrate impressive and great Spiritual prowess. I’m just looking for thought-out answers that are real.
You game? Me, too! OK, here goes. You do not need to include the questions or instructions in your answers but, for the sake of organization, please do list them by number. (1-6)
1. Please go to a website like Bible Gateway or to your Bible software if you have it and look up Isaiah 30:15-18. Please read it thoroughly in 3 different translations. In your response to this first exercise, please tell me what 3 translations you read then copy and paste the one that spoke the most blatantly to you. (In your answer you will have the abbreviations to three translations and then the full text in one of them. Make sense?)
2. Look up the word “threat” in any good English dictionary and write the full definition. After you write the definition, please share how it hits you and how you feel most threatened in this season, if at all. Keep in mind that nothing trips the switch on our insecurity like feeling threatened. Be careful as always in this community not to over-share by telling things about other people who wouldn’t necessarily appreciate it.
3. What does “fleeing” tend to look like in your life? In other words, how are you most prone to flee? And, are you in fleeing mode right now?
4. Compare or contrast the Isaiah text (30:15-18)Â to 1 Peter 5:8-10 and James 4:7.
5. One of my translations this morning for this text was The Message. Here it is on the card I wrote out.
Do you perchance need to hear the words “settle down!” as much as I do? If so, why?
6. Finish your assignment with any particular personal insight you gained from it and, most of all, what you discern God is saying to you through it.
I love this kind of thing! If you don’t, I still love YOU. I will look so forward to reading many of your “papers.” Girl, I do dearly relish a classroom, and from both sides of the desk. Lindsee will be in town moderating your comments then I will start looking at them as soon as I finish up in Dallas.
PRAY FOR US! I LOVE YOU!!!
NIV, The Message
Isaiah 30:15-18
Amplified Bible (AMP)
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,
16 And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
17 One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.
18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
Threat: A statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not…: “the family has received death threats”. I feel threatened with unbelief; that my circumstances will fill me with fear that the things I want so badly will never happen, and that I will start distrusting Godâs Godness.
Fleeing to me means I take over; I donât rest in God being God, but I try to make things happen because I am scared that He wonât (or canât). I try to compensate for him and flee from that place of resting in trust. I am toeing the flee line right now; I havenât started but my flesh is itching to take over for him!
Satan is out to get us! (1 Peter) He is the one who tempts us to run and flee and not rest. If we stand firm in faith we can find that rest in trusting God that is our strength.
Settle down! Stop trying to make things happenâI am God! (He has been beating me over the head with this message for quite a while now!)
Oh how I needed to hear this this morning! I am a type A planner, and there are a lot of âhow in the heck are we going to get there?â things going on in my life right now. God keeps reminding me that He is BIGâI am only at peace when I rest in His plan. He is God; I need not try to be Him. He has good plans for me; He longs to be gracious to me in every wayâstop striving silly girl! Rest in Him and wait eagerly and expectantly for Him to shower His goodness and love on you!
The NKJV spoke to me most. The main thing that leapt off the page (or, in this case, monitor) to me is “Blessed are those who wait on Him”. As we all know, this is one of the hardest things we’re called on to do. So many times, I’ve run ahead of God & suffered the consequences. I am in a very “unfair” situation the past several YEARS, with no end in sight. It is so tempting to “take charge & DO something”, or at least murmur & complain. It is natural to cry out “Where are you, my God” as David did in the Psalm. Crying out to Him is okay, but murmuring to other people about His “neglect” & “unfair treatment” of one of His is NOT. I “stumbled into” (GODincidence?) a Wed. night Bible study with Susannah Baker called “Waiting on the Lord”. It dovetails so nicely with your Tues. night study, Beth, as WAITING is my main task right now. I know He will eventually deliver me & mine and HE WILL BE GLORIFIED.
I cant wait to do my homework later today!!! Thanks Beth!! I needed this message from you today!!! đ
1. HCSB, NIV and Amplified Bible.
Isaiah 31:15-18, AMP
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,
16 And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
17 One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.
18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!(A)
2. Definition of Threat: a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc., in retaliation for, or conditionallyupon, some action or course; menace;
I feel most threatened by my workload. I’m not sure how I will be able to get it all done this season, and do it well. I SO don’t want to fail. So perhaps I’m threatened by the possibility of failure?? Hmm.
3. What does âfleeingâ tend to look like in your life? In other words, how are you most prone to flee? And, are you in fleeing mode right now?
I think fleeing looks like complaining in my life right now. I am complaining a lot about my job/workload instead of taking action and doing something about it.
4. Compare or contrast the Isaiah text (30:15-18) to 1 Peter 5:8-9.
I think that 1 Peter is telling us how to handle a threat. The Amplified version tells us to “be well balanced,” by “standing firm in the faith” (NIV).
5. Do you perchance need to hear the words âsettle down!â as much as I do? If so, why?
Yes. Settle down from complaining. From worrying. From over-thinking.
6. Finish your assignment with any particular personal insight you gained from it and, most of all, what you discern God is saying to you through it.
This could not have come at a better time. What a great reminder to settle down, to trust God, to stand firm on our faith. And even when our lives are shaken, the only place we should flee to is at the feet of our Maker. May we remember this as we move ahead.
1. I read the NIV, KJV and the NKJV.
The one that spoke to me the most was the KJV
15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
King James Version (KJV)
2. Threat – a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc., in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course
I have felt threatened with loss of friendships and loved ones.
3. When I flee – I turn my feelings off and I flee within myself. Not letting anyone see my true feelings. Hoping that somehow that if I ignore them they will go away – I emotionally flee from them.
4. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Both verses remind us that God will wait for us. He will always be there waiting for us when we are ready to put our trust in Him during the hard times. We do not need to flee from our troubles because He is always ready and waiting to help us through them.
5. Settle down to me means do not let the anxiety and worry get to me – by calming myself and allowing God into my heart I will feel better. He will strengthen me. Believe what people tell me – do not let my imagination cause me to worry.
6. I know that right now in particular I am going through some of the hardest times in my life, but I need to remember that God will be there for me – I do not need to flee – I just need to trust in Him, trust that He is here with me and if I allow Him He will help me get through it. As difficult as it is to face the feelings I have – He will be here to help me.
AMP, ESV and NIV
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.
You said, âNo, we will flee on horses.â Therefore you will flee! You said, âWe will ride off on swift horses.â Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away,till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,like a banner on a hill.âYet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! -Isaiah 30:15-18 (NIV)
2.Merriam Webster – THREAT definition:1: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage 2: one that threatens 3: an indication of something impending
I am most struck by the thought of something “impending” – the phrase impending gloom comes to mind. My greatest insecurities are the uncertainties of the future. This is what threatens me the most.
3. Fleeing for me means distraction from focusing or facing what threatens me. I do this through surfing the web or by reading fiction or TV.
4. In Isaiah God highlights our desire to FLEE – in 1 Peter we are encouraged to stand firm. In both it is GOD who will strengthen and support us.
5.YES… sometimes I need to hear that “SETTLE DOWN, CHILD!”
6. What came to me is “flee to Jesus” – through prayer, meditation, and Scripture. This is the right kind of “fleeing” but in truth it isn’t fleeing at all. It is turning to the correct source of help and aid to face whatever may threaten me. Jesus gives me the strength and courage and hope to face my fears, my threats, all of life.
1. NIV, ESV, GNT – The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says to the people, âCome back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure.â But you refuse to do it. Instead, you plan to escape from your enemies by riding fast horses. And you are rightâescape is what you will have to do! You think your horses are fast enough, but those who pursue you will be faster! A thousand of you will run away when you see one enemy soldier, and five soldiers will be enough to make you all run away. Nothing will be left of your army except a lonely flagpole on the top of a hill. And yet the LORD is waiting to be merciful to you. He is ready to take pity on you because he always does what is right. Happy are those who put their trust in the LORD.
2. An expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage.
An indication of something impending.
The impending threat causes me the most anxiety right now in my life. Knowing that there is an impending threat or something scary is right around the corner causes me to be terrified of going around that corner.
3. For me fleeing is running flat out as fast and as far away from the threat as I can, until I get somewhere safe. Then I hunker down and hide.
Iâm not really in fleeing mode, but I am in âcoming out of hiding, after an extended period of fleeingâ mode. I have hidden from God and from his people for about 10 years and I am now allowing myself to hear from Him and starting to trust the people around me again.
4. We are to be on alert to the threats around us. We are not to flee them but to resist them. Be firm in our faith and know that God will perfect me and give me firmness, strength and a sure foundation. Praise you Jesus.
5. I do. I feel like a jumpy poodle when there is a loud noise. I need to calm down, remember that I am in the palm of his hand and he has me, even where there are impending threats around me.
6. He is waiting for me to settle down and see him, and know that he is going to take pity on me. But as long as I am a jumpy poodle, He will not be able to accomplish what he wants to through me.
1. NRSV, AMP, KJV
Isaiah 30:15-18
Amplified Bible (AMP)
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me]
you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you
would not,
16 And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight
from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will
they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
17 One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee
till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a
hill.
18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to
you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to
you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who
[earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His
love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
2. -an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
-one that threatens
-an indication of something impending
That last definition finally put a face to the fear I feel. Just that something, anything, is
impending causes my faith to flutter. Not my faith in God, but my faith in my willingness to obey
and to not taint or destroy whatever that God given impending something may be.
3. Fleeing often looks like total avoidance for me. I once heard the phrase “analysis paralysis”
and that about sums it up. I think in circles that get tighter and tighter until finally, there is
no movement.
I’m not in fleeing mode right now, but am rebuking the notion that running is an option I could
live with.
4. Amen!!! Forget running around like lion bait, I can stand still and not be at a standstill!
5. Only all the time. My thoughts race, my imagination, and soon my pulse, too. Then come the
butterlies and the fight or flight response comes calling. I could think myself out of a God thing
if the Lord didn’t tell me to settle down…repeatedly and often.
6. As I prepare my introverted self to die and allow my outgoing spirit to stand before people in
boldness and in the work God has for me, seeing the word “steadfast” in the passage from 1 Peter
blew me away. I prayed for a word of focus last year, and steadfast was that word. Today, God
reminds me He’s been doing this thing and equipping me and He’s not about to stop now.
I’m not sure why that went bonkers, it looked fine before I hit submit. LOL
1.ESV, NKJV & NET
The NET is as follows:
15 For this is what the master, the LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: “If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, but you are unwilling.
16 You say, ‘No, we will flee on horses,’ so you will indeed flee. You say, ‘We will ride on fast horses,’ so your pursuers will be fast.
17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, until the remaining few are as isolated as a flagpole on a mountaintop or a signal flag on a hill.”
18 For this reason the LORD is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the LORD is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.
2.Threat…”an indication of something impending ”
I have had a truly undeservedly blessed life: found Jesus @ age 16 (am 57), wonderful husband, 2 children who love Jesus (as do their spouses), 2 grandbabies this past year, good health, wonderful church, amazing friendships. As I type, I’m even more convinced this is undeserved. The “threat” for me is that when (not if) heartache, loss, sickness comes, will others see Christ’s glory and not my grief or weakness.
3. I usually “flee” by withdrawing and not engaging others.
4. These 2 NT. passages were a needed reminder that when heartache, sickness or loss DO come, the burden of appearing strong is not mine to bear. Jesus faced Satan, warred with Him and won. I need to remember that.
5. Yes….I need to “settle down” in humility and trust, because it is my pride that says I can be strong when the trial comes.
6. My “horses” (strength) is self reliance. When I flee on that “horse” I am pursued by anxiousness and fear of looking weak. Oh LORD, let me lean on Your mercies and strength, knowing I can’t borrow it for the future trials, but trusting You will be there waiting to supply!
1. I read the NIV, NLT, and CEV. The CEV spoke to me: “The holy Lord God of Israel had told all of you, âI will keep you safe if you turn back to me and calm down. I will make you strong if you quietly trust me.â Then you stubbornly said, âNo! We will safely escape on speedy horses.â But those who chase you will be even faster. As few as five of them, or even one, will be enough to chase a thousand of you. Finally, all that will be left will be a few survivors as lonely as a flag pole on a barren hill. The Lord God is waiting to show how kind he is and to have pity on you. The Lord always does right; he blesses those who trust him.”
2. THREAT (noun): (1) a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc., in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course; menace. (2) an indication or warning of probable trouble. (3) a person or thing that threatens.
I feel most threatened by these thought: Maybe I’m not REALLY redeemed. Maybe, just maybe, I’m not totally changed. Am I really so naive to think that I WON’T slip back into those old habits, patterns, unhealthy escapes?
3. I flee to food. I am ashamed to say that I have fled to the arms of another man before. I flee to shopping.
4. The Isaiah text speaks of God’s desire for us to dwell in Him and our tendency to say, “No thanks, God. I’ve GOT this! I can handle it on my own.” Patiently, God waits for us to return to Him, knowing that all the efforts I make in my own power will leave me lonely, tattered, barren. Similarly, the 1 Peter text talks about the suffering I’ll endure when I “do life” via my own power. When I, instead, humble myself before the Father (James 4:7), I’ll be strengthened to resist the flesh (and Satan) and stand firm on the foundation of Christ.
5. Yes. My plate is full (as usual) and I want to do it all – and do it perfectly. I let myself down when I am not the mom I “should” be, the wife I “should” be, the sister/friend/leader/employee/runner/cook/volunteer I “should” be. I tend to focus on tasks and not relationships and I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off – irritable, frantic, emotional, – ticking off to-do-list items but I don’t have time to talk, reflect, meditate, pray, seek, enjoy, BE.
6. “Cut the fat. Come to Me.” God wants me to rest in Him, trust in Him, live in Him. I’m struggling because I try to do it all by my own power FIRST and often don’t seek Him before, or even during. But only after, when I’m on my knees in tears and ready to give up because I realize I can’t do it.
1. NIV, NLT, and Amplified (only including verse 16 as this is what hit me most) â â16. And you said, No! We will speed (our own course) on horses! Therefore you will speed (in flight from your enemies)! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds (doing our own way)? Therefore will they who pursue you be swift⌠2. THREAT – an indication of something impending ⌠I think what hits me here is that it is âimpendingâ â we are expecting it to happen⌠we can plan on it and be prepared for it. 3. âFleeingâ – I think this is where the above verse hit me most â in the Amplified the âfleeingâ is going âour own courseâ and âdoing our own wayâ. I have a problem with that âwanting to do things my way â in my time â not waiting on God and waiting for his time! 4. The amplified for James 4:7 says âBe subject to Godâ which is the precursor to the stand strong and he will flee from you! It hinges on the being subject to God and not going our own course. 5. who doesnât need to hear âSettle downâ more 6. My insight – Part of settling down is âsettling INTOâ God.. Relying on him, which is basically giving up our own power in order to access his. WOW â that was profound! Coming from a control freak â thatâs scary stuff.
Msg sent via Atmail – http://www.nec.org/mail/
1) NIV. MSG, NKJV:
15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
âIn returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.â
But you would not,
16 And you said, âNo, for we will flee on horsesââ
Therefore you shall flee!
And, âWe will ride on swift horsesââ
Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one,
At the threat of five you shall flee,
Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain
And as a banner on a hill.
18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.”
I like the simplicity of this translation. Especially the part that says: “the Lord will wait”
2)threat- an expression of intent to inflict evil, injury or damage
My marriage feels as if it’s being threatened right now- both by the evil one as well as by my own flesh!
3)I am prone to fleeing by turning away from God, becoming hopeless and most of all by distracting myself- via just randomly surfing the internet, shutting down my feelings and closing up inside.
4)I like how James 4:7 tells us that this can be reversed- that by submitting to God- the devil will FLEE from US!
5)I do need to settle down and focus on Him and His word alone
6)I think that God is making clear to me that this is a huge spiritual battle and I must be strong in Him alone.
1. NIV , The Message, and Amplified
Isaiah 30:15-18
Amplified Bible (AMP)
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,
16 And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
17 One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.
18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
2. THREAT : an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage; one that threatens; an indication of something impending
I feel most threatened in this season of my life by the comfort of my situation and how easy it is to idolize things, and circumstances, and false security. I am threatened by Jesus’ words in the gospels and threatened by how well I seem to be able to relate to the Pharisees.
3. Fleeing, in my life, tends to look like ignoring and finding something else to occupy my mind. In this case, it is painful to read through the gospels right now, and while part of me is hungering for that closeness to God, there is pain in change often and I fear my willingness to allow God to change me is slow to adhere.
4. THREAT: We have an enemy that is ferociously pursuing us (Isaiah 30:16-17; 1 Peter 5:8) RESPONSE: Rest in, wait on, expect, long and look for God (Isaiah 30:15-18); Be vigilant, cautious, withstand, be firm in faith, know your brothers around the world are facing the same trials
5. I need to hear God tell me to be still. I am overwhelmed by the temptations to get caught up in a comfortable life and not give my all to Jesus and I have honestly worked myself into a bit of a tizzy lately. However, I think what Jesus is trying to remind me is how great the distance my sin has put between Him and I, but how great the Power of the Spirit and how great the work of Jesus on the cross and how immeasurable the love of the Father to take it all away so I can be with Him. That I could work my whole life to be better, but it would never be enough; to draw near to Him and submit to the Spirit’s transformation in me instead of trying to do it myself. I hear God saying, “Be still, I’ve got you.”
6. Satan will use whatever tactic he can to put distance between me and God; but I will be firm in faith through the Power of the Spirit, the same Power that raised Christ from the dead.
1.
NIV
The Message
NLV
GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
âYour salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on meâ
The very thing
youâve been unwilling to do.
Youâve said, âNothing doing! Weâll rush off on horseback!â
Youâll rush off, all right! Just not far enough!
Youâve said, âWeâll ride off on fast horses!â
Do you think your pursuers ride old nags?
Think again: A thousand of you will scatter before one attacker.
Before a mere five youâll all run off.
Thereâll be nothing left of youâ
a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.â
18 But GODâs not finished. Heâs waiting around to be gracious to you.
Heâs gathering strength to show mercy to you.
GOD takes the time to do everything rightâeverything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
2. an indication of something impending
3. Depressionâgiving upâself pity
YES, I’m in a fleeing mode right now.
4. Okay…I did that.
5. Yes, because Iâm a very hard-worker. If I can do nothing else, I can WORK on something. Weâre starting a new private Christian University-Model school. Iâm super productive at work. I can write lessons, research liability insurance options, learn how to increase our search engine optimization, and work on our budget all in a few hours.
I get satisfaction out of others acknowledging that Iâm a âwork horse.â
I can see the fruit of the labor and it makes me happy. When I work, I expect certain fruits to come of it. If I donât see those fruits, then I am seriously depressed. For example, to promote our January information meeting, we published 3 press releases, were featured on the front page of the local newspaper, have created a Twitter account (that no one follows, by the way) + so much more. I expected the fruit to be good turn-out at our information night…I even had a number in mind…20 families (40 people)âafter all, weâve had almost 200 unique viewers on our website in the past few months. You know how many showed up? 6 families. Instead of rejoicing over the 6 families, I am crying because of my failure. What is wrong with me? Why wonât the Lord reward my hard work? Was I wrong about this âcallâ to open a school?
What does settle down mean? Does it mean stop working so hard? Stop doing so much? How is that possible? There is so much to DO?
6.
18 But GODâs not finished. Heâs waiting around to be gracious to you.
Heâs gathering strength to show mercy to you.
GOD takes the time to do everything rightâeverything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
I think there is one thing missing from my busy work list: pray to the Lord for HIS help. Read from his word about WHAT Iâm supposed to be doing to seek Him. Stop relying on my husband for the guidance the Lord should provide me (Iâm always telling my husband that I feel alone in all of this and if heâd help me, I wouldnât feel so alone). But seeking the Lordâs guidance on what I should be doing scares me for 2 reasons.
First, the Lord doesnât always answer right away. Iâm not good at being idle. Does being idle and waiting on the Lord mean the same thing?
Second, Iâve always had a real problem keeping everyone at arms-length. I donât want to be let down. I donât want to be hurt. That makes it hard for me to get close to Godâs counsel as well. How do I break down that barrier and let God in?
Elizabeth.
If I were having coffee with you I would say to you that you have been CHOSEN by God. He is the same God who gave Moses the Ten Commandments ( several times) and reminded Daniel not to be afraid because his prayer had already been heard. Ask God if He is just as much in a hurry as your are right now. I think He is looking and waiting for you to sit in His lap and let your inbox overflow. If He can give us resurrection power….He can aide you through this season. I know you feel maxed. I am praying for you right now. Your God loves you and He is not finished with you yet:). I will be praying for you Elizabeth all weekend.
Elizabeth,
After reading your response to the homework assignment from Beth, I thought I was reading my own post! Girlfriend, I don’t know you personally but in Jesus time I hope to look forward to meeting you one day. This is a season for you that is a tough one (as is mine) fear hurts you more than Love ever will, this I’m learning. Love casts out fear and the Lord created Love its his DNA, there is no darkness in him, he’s giving you a blessing by showing you your heart and letting you know your his. It may seem afflicting but the lord only corrects his ‘own’ kids and girl, you’d have no idea about any of this if you weren’t his kid. He’s got your lifes plan and you are going to be alight. The enemy is trying to corner you, just turn around point to Jesus and let him start swinging and stand back and clap. Our job, is to clap!!!Go girl!!! I see this and it gives me hope that I’m not alone. And I have felt so alone and guilty for my fear, control freak nature and not Letting God do good work in my life. I’ll be praying for you, you are chosen for a special task, and there is always a dark period for his ‘choisiest saints.’-Adrian Rodgers. Praise the Lord!
Hi Elizabeth,
Just my 2 cents worth on your questions at the end. I also thought that waiting on the Lord equated with being idle. I’ve discovered that waiting on the Lord is an active choice! I can pray, meditate on Scripture, pray some more đ and keep busy being faithful to my tasks. I also monitor my thoughts and actions to see if I’m trying to wrestle the issue back from the Lord, essentially not waiting on Him! This occurs frequently! I also try focusing my thoughts on Him and His power and His love, instead of my problems and my faults. All of the above can keep my quite busy! And, I have to do it frequently because I’m still trying to rely on myself instead of the Lord, but I’m making progress.
Breaking down the barrier and let God in. God is not a person, like all the others who have hurt us and let us down. We will have pain and trouble in this life, but God is faithful. God’s Word says to draw near to God and He will draw near to you. I found it helpful to know that He already knows everything anyhow. He has always helped me, just not in my timing. I’m learning to wait on His timing–which is always right.
Isaiah 30:15-18
New Life Version (NLV)
15 The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, âIn turning away from sin and in rest, you will be saved. Your strength will come by being quiet and by trusting.â But you would not. 16 You said, âNo, we will go away fast on horses.â So you will go away in a hurry! You say, âWe will go on fast horses.â So those who come to take you will be fast. 17 One thousand will run away as one man stands up against them. You will all run away when five stand up against them, until you are like flags lifted up on a mountain top, like something special to see on a hill.
Good Will Come to Godâs People
18 So the Lord wants to show you kindness. He waits on high to have loving-pity on you. For the Lord is a God of what is right and fair. And good will come to all those who hope in Him.
The three versions I read were NIV, NLV, and The Message for the scripture passage above.
Threat: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
Recently, I began into a battle for my life: my marriage in shambles after ten years, my husband full of threats on my life and the life of our daughter. This word today is interesting, we always think of a threat as action but this says it is expression, which can come in non-verbal and verbal cues. I think to myself today that I despise this word. The very thought brings pain so deep one can not comprehend.
Fleeing in my life, my fleeing moments have been the last ten years. Fleeing from reality of pain, damage and despair to the world. Fleeing deeper into commitments and further away from the problems which were always there needing to be dealt with but never wanting to deal with them. At this moment, I can not flee any longer. I must turn boldly to God and stop running.
I look at the context of 1Peter and see the words used again, loving-favor instead of loving-pity. We are pulled to his love if we allow ourselves. Such love that we can receive if we just stop running, begin to have internal awareness of those who seek to eat us up and the ONE who seeks to fully love and promote us from within our desperate and our confident moments.
I know my sin. I read it. I see it. I believe he loves me. I am in the loving-pity mode. He has pity on my poor choices but above that it is loving pity, the kind like a father, the understanding kind. HE WAITS for us on high to show us this love. Wow. Thanks be to God, the lover of my soul.
1. Read NIV and NLT, chose Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
15 For thus saith Adonoi Hashem Kadosh Yisroel; In shuvah (returning) and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your gevurah (strength); but ye would not.
16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon sus; therefore shall ye flee; and, We will ride off upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
17 Elef echad shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five shall ye flee; until ye be left as a pole upon the top of the har, and as a nes (banner, flag) on a hill.
18 And therefore will Hashem wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have rachamim upon you; for Hashem is Elohei Mishpat; Ashrei are all they that wait for Him.
2. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threat : an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage; one that threatens; an indication of something impending . This concept really hit me because I am coming out of a time where I lived feeling threatened. Every day I was consumed with worry over what this person was going to do to me that day. I got out of the situation over a year ago and am just learning not to have fear every day or to be ruled by fearing what others might do. I am so so so thankful that God got me out of there before it was too late. I cannot get over how Heâs saved me so many times beyond what I have deserved.
3. Fleeing for me is historically finding my own solution and barreling towards it with reckless abandon and desperation. Because of baggage from past relationships and situations, I most often am tempted these days to flee by just cutting out of the situation and ghosting, regardless of how it might hurt others. I have to intentionally work to stay through tough times and work through it. I find my faith and trust in others can vanish almost immediately and I desire to just be done when things look unmanageable.
4. Waiting on the LORDâs salvation does not mean being blind to or lazy in the situation. Waiting on the LORD looks more like seeing what lies ahead and around and choosing to stand on faith. This is resting on His salvation. It is through standing firm in Him that he is able to strengthen, support, and restore you. This is His love and compassion.
5. I need to hear those words ALL THE TIME. In the past year and a half, I have moved 7 times, switched jobs four times, lost my home, been left in a bitter and painful way by one I thought would stand by me through everything, and have lost a list of relationships that were important to me. I get discouraged and feel like just scrapping everything and starting over. God had firmly expressed to me that the place that He has currently brought me to is one for healing, which is not always easy or good-feeling, and I am to remain put until He moves me elsewhere. I have turned down promising job offers in order to find stability and to remain near my church family. That was hard, but I know it will be worth it. I feel like He is teaching me how to remain in a season of lifeâsomething that I âun-learnedâ through surviving some hard and dangerous situations.
6. I actually saw the notecard pic on twitter before finding this assignment and it was a breath of fresh air. Iâve had a rough 24 hours where it just seemed like people are spring loaded to bite heads off and Iâm feeling a little raw and empty. Been praying for Him to tend to my hurts rather than getting upset. So when I read this verse, it was comforting to remember that He is my champion. My strength. My life is His to protect or to use for His glory in any way He sees fit. I am not to rally and champion my own causes or rights and doing so will just leave me falling on my face. Last night I felt pressed upon to read Ps 104 and Ps 111. Both were worshiping God for His strength and humbly acknowledging His awesome position. This verse was cementing those concepts. If I wait in Him in obedience, He perfect will will be done and it will be better than I could have force things on my own. No tattered banner alone on a hill for this girl. I want to fight for something more. I want to be standing by His side waving a victory flag because I obeyed and He was glorified, not because I fought for what I deserved in life. I want something of greater value and infinitely more potent than what I can attain. I want Him.
1. NIV, YLT
ESV 15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,
âIn returning[c] and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.â
But you were unwilling, 16 and you said,
âNo! We will flee upon horsesâ;
therefore you shall flee away;
and, âWe will ride upon swift steedsâ;
therefore your pursuers shall be swift.
17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;
at the threat of five you shall flee,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
like a signal on a hill.
The LORD Will Be Gracious
18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
2. Look up the word âthreatâ in any good English dictionary and write the full definition. After you write the definition, please share how it hits you and how you feel most threatened in this season, if at all. Keep in mind that nothing trips the switch on our insecurity like feeling threatened. Be careful as always in this community not to over-share by telling things about other people who wouldnât necessarily appreciate it.
Dictionary.com: threat: 1. a declaration of intention or determination to inflict punishment, injry, etc., in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course; mance
2. An indication or warning of probably trouble
3. A person or thing that threatens.
4. To threaten (archaic â verb)
3. What does âfleeingâ tend to look like in your life? In other words, how are you most prone to flee? And, are you in fleeing mode right now?
Escape. I tend to avoid threats or problems or to procrastinate until I have no choice but to confront the problem. Right now I am attempting not to escape my problems. But Iâm in standby mode for them right now.
4. Compare or contrast the Isaiah text (30:15-18) to 1 Peter 5:8-10 and James 4:7.
The promise from Isaiah being fulfilled in the new testament: stand firm, rely on God and He will carry you through and give you strength, courage, and rest from your enemies.
5. One of my translations this morning for this text was The Message. Here it is on the card I wrote out. Do you perchance need to hear the words âsettle down!â as much as I do? If so, why?
Yes, I do. I have trust issues. I know I can trust in God, but I want to do everything myself and not have to wait on Him.
6. Finish your assignment with any particular personal insight you gained from it and, most of all, what you discern God is saying to you through it.
This couldnât have come at a better time. I suffered a huge disappointment yesterday. I need to learn to rely on His time. I keep reminding myself that He only wants good things for me, but my lack of trust and faith makes me want to do everything myself and not wait on His time. Yesterday was another message from Him telling me to wait and trust in Him. But waiting is so very difficult for me. âFleeingâ from him in an attempt to do everything myself now only makes the situation more difficult. Resting and relying on God is something I am really struggling to do.
1. NIV RSA AND The Message
God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right
15-17 GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
âYour salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on meâ
The very thing
youâve been unwilling to do.
Youâve said, âNothing doing! Weâll rush off on horseback!â
Youâll rush off, all right! Just not far enough!
Youâve said, âWeâll ride off on fast horses!â
Do you think your pursuers ride old nags?
Think again: A thousand of you will scatter before one attacker.
Before a mere five youâll all run off.
Thereâll be nothing left of youâ
a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.â
18 But GODâs not finished. Heâs waiting around to be gracious to you.
Heâs gathering strength to show mercy to you.
GOD takes the time to do everything rightâeverything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
2. Threat: a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc., in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course;
The word Threat hits me hard because it creates fear in me. Fear has been a big part of my life the past couple years with two rebellious teenage boys. Not knowing why, if or when seem to be a threat to my PEACE! I need to let the LORD be gracious to me. He has the strength to show mercy to me. If I trust in him and wait I could be a lucky one.
3. Im most prone to flee by not seeing things for what they are, or excepting them. Instead I try to run or flee from reality that at this point in time the devil has a grip on my boys and I canât fix it. I always have to have my nose in the business and my spiritual comments voiced. I flee to these boys and from God by not being still and knowing HE is in control
4. Isaiah says God is in control, IPeter says stay alert the devil is ready to pounceâŚ. Christians all over the world are experiencing difficulty of some type. The suffering wonât last forever because God has great plans for me. James says to repent
5. Absolutely I need to settle down. Rest in God to do what is best and stop trying to keep in the middle of chaos.
6. God is trying to tell me I need to stop all my silly efforts and settle down by strength that only God can give me. I need to flee from threats and fear and allow God to be gracious to me with peace so I will experience His mercy thru this time in life. Raising two grandsons in Christian home, Church and Christian school, that they know better and God know best! God show your mercy on us all and let us be the blessed ones, with peace of knowing my boys will someday come back to YOU and Serve YOU to their potential! Lord Please teach us to love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and rest in the JOY of YOUR SALVATION!
Please pray for these two brothers that are rebellious to God and family. Pray that their hearts are changed and they come back to GOD! We love them unconditionally and are very concerned with their spiritual health and their safety.
LOVE that translation of verse 18- Praise God that He is not finished!!!
Amy from Winter Haven, FL
1. Isaiah 30:15-18 MSG / NIV / NKJV
(NIV) This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: âIn repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, âNo, we will flee on horses.â Therefore you will flee! You said, âWe will ride off on swift horses.â Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one at the threat of five you will all flee away till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.â Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
2 Definition of Threat:
: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
: one that threatens
: an indication of something impending
An indication of something impending really hits me at this point in my life.The last few years I have been through intense loss. I feel the threat of being forgotten and the feeling that this is what life is for me now. I know this is not truth and I battle those feelings with the truth of Godâs Word, but I do feel that threat at times.
3. I think âfleeingâ for me right now is when I try desperately to plan my life to move it on from this stage and get God to approve it instead of sitting still and waiting on Him and being present in the waiting. I am off and on in fleeing mode. The Lord showed me again yesterday that I wasnât trusting Him and I needed to be still. Sometimes being still is the toughest thing. WowâŚI guess this homework assignment was perfect timing for me.
4 Isaiah 30:15-18 and 1 Peter 5:8-10 In Isaiah the act of running instead of waiting on the Lord brought on their pursuers and left them in defeat. In 1 Peter we are told to resist and stand firm and then God will restore and make us strong, firm and steadfast. If we give in to feelings of threat then we begin fleeing which brings on defeat. Very eye opening!
5. I needed to hear the words âsettle downâ very much! I have been trying way too hard. I love the next words tooâŚâsettling down in complete dependence on me.â
6. I think the Lord is saying to meâŚAmy, youâve got to trust me! You canât worry yourself into a better place. You canât figure this out and that is on purpose. I am using this time to teach you to trust me. Now rest.
1. NET
30:15 For this is what the master, the Lord, the Holy One of Israel says:
âIf you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; 36
if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, 37
but you are unwilling.
30:16 You say, âNo, we will flee on horses,â
so you will indeed flee.
You say, âWe will ride on fast horses,â
so your pursuers will be fast.
30:17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; 38
at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, 39
until the remaining few are as isolated 40
as a flagpole on a mountaintop
or a signal flag on a hill.â
The Lord Will Not Abandon His People
30:18 For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy;
he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. 41
Indeed, the Lord is a just God;
all who wait for him in faith will be blessed. 42
HCSB
ESV
2.
1. a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc., in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course; menace: He confessed under the threat of imprisonment.
2. an indication or warning of probable trouble: The threat of a storm was in the air.
3. a person or thing that threatens.
3. A threat is a declaration to inflict harm â not the harm itself. Menacing. I feel my unborn baby is threatened by the bad decisions I have made.
I have been thinking about if I have the ability to stay married or if I should leave my husband, and that would definitely be fleeing.
4.
Satan threatens us to get us to flee. If we quietly trusted in God we would find strength.
Resist the devil. Wait with endurance, because God will redeem.
Resist the devil and he will flee. Submit to God.
Isaiah 30:15-18 shows the result of NOT resisting the devil and trusting the Lord.
5. Iâm falling into the trap of panicking and becoming impatient. Now is the time to settle down. When things seem the worst is when I am coming nearest to deliverance. Itâs time to have faith.
6. This is the second time today I had the verse of resisting the devil and he will flee. This is the third day in a row that I have had verses about waiting. I have asked You Lord to open my eyes to Your movement in my life because I am afraid and feel overwhelmed by this pregnancy and my marriage. I am waiting for you to move and change my husbandâs heart and our circumstances with our families. Thank You for answering my prayer and giving me this encouragement. It does renew my faith and âsettle me downâ and help me trust in You.
Girl, you are living my life a year and a half ago. But I had already fled. I was so sick of being in a marriage to a man who was neglectful and unfaithful. I fled, into an affair. And from that affair I had baby number 2, a year and a half to the day after I had had baby number one with my husband. Oh the consequences that I have paid for not waiting on God and being obedient. Not waiting will take you farther than you ever bargained on going. Be encouraged. I see now how God protects us when we remain in Him. I should have stood firm for my own sake, not based on my husband’s right or wrong actions. God will see you through anything if you are obedient
That brought tears to my eyes. God has been stressing that word over and over too. OBEDIENT
Jenn, I can tell you that there are immense, indescribeable blessings when we wait on God! I’ve been in that place in my marriage – lived there for years – wanted to run but somehow God kept my feet. Check out 1 Peter 2:18-3:9 in the Amplified and start praying it every day. I know the Creator God! He created love where none was left and a marriage from no useful parts. My husband would testify to the same thing. Today, we’ve been brought out to a spacious place! We LOVE each other. God rescued us!
Don’t you love it when God keeps hammering something in?
NIV Isaiah 30:15-18
God is telling me to trust him in this season. And that he hears me and my heart for what I want for my family. I just need to be still and wait on The Lord and trust His time and His way.
Thank u Beth for this great home work and for sharing ur gift of teaching.
15Â This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
âIn repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.
16Â You said, âNo, we will flee on horses.â
    Therefore you will flee!
You said, âWe will ride off on swift horses.â
    Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
17Â A thousand will flee
    at the threat of one;
at the threat of five
    you will all flee away,
till you are left
    like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
    like a banner on a hill.â
18Â Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30:15-18 The Message
Also read NIV and AMP
A threat is an act of coercion wherein an act is proposed to elicit a negative response.
I feel the threat of the devil over our adoption process. That something will inevitably go wrong. That the Lord’s promise will not be fulfilled. I want to flee from the possible pain of not being able to adopt a child and carry out the gospel. Avoidance is my strategy against threats.
The Lord is with me even after the devil has devoured me. He is waiting in the wings to restore my faith and grace. All I have to do is be quiet and trust.
This assignment spoke to me that I need to pray circles around anything that I feel the slightest threat.
Jaclyn Bailes Palestine, TX
1.Isaiah 30:15-18
1. Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
2. New International Version (NIV)
Spoke to me.
3. King James Version (KJV)
15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
2. Threat:
1. An expression of an intention to inflict pain, injury, evil, or punishment.
2. An indication of impending danger or harm.
3. One that is regarded as a possible danger; a menace.
I am feeling threatened of losing my hold and my walk with the Lord. I have a marriage proposal and my finances are very tight due to an illness and if I marry this man my walk will change and not for the better.
3. Fleeing:
Running away when I am cornered. I just past that phase from August to November last year now I am going forward.
4.1 Peter is easier to understand more pointed and James says it all in 2 sentences.
5. Yes I do I have been so anxious this week and I felt God take me by my shoulders and say GIRL YOU ARE GROUNDED you are not to leave this house until you get yourself under control. Day 2 and I am much better. Praise Jesus you always know whatâs best.
6. I need to when I get anger (because we all do) wait, pray, ponder and then proceed. Then my anger will be controlled and I wonât get as upset and have such a melt-down. Oh and God always puts things in front of you Beth that speaks directly to my heart and my situation.
1.NIV, NKJV, Amp.
Isaiah 30:15-18âAmplified Bible (AMP)
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,
16 And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
17 One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.
18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
2. An expression of an intent to inflict pain, injury, or evil. âThe American Heritage Dictionary
Since Iâve been learning about Eucharisteo (thanksgiving in everything), my biggest threat is in my attitude and going back to my old perspective. I have to ask myself, if something âreally badâ were to happen in my life, can I still maintain a thankful attitude? Can I find joy and see Godâs grace in the hard times. My relationship with God often feels like itâs in a healing process and the threat is that I may sometimes want to turn my back on him like a petulant child.
3. I think my fleeing tends to be a rebellious attitude. A lot of it is in my thought life. Iâve always been a camouflage-r. So on the outside, I look like Iâm âconformingâ, doing the right things, but behind all that I fight God.
As the New Year started, I wanted a fresh start and as I asked for that I ran into an immediate lure in the opposite direction. I was ready to flee and had begun a swift rebellion, but God has whipped my head around in the most loving and thoughtful way.
4. WellâŚthis is what I have to do daily. RESIST! Make a choice. I love how the Isaiah text says, âthe Lord waits to be gracious to you.â It reminds me again, of a child throwing a tantrum and the patient parent standing by wanting it to end so that love and peace can be restored.
5. YES! All the time. Like, all day long I need to settle down. My salvation doesnât come from me. ď I canât save myself.
So, truthâI work full time, Iâm mom to my beautiful kids, Iâm involved in ministry, and a local city commission. I constantly have to stop myself from thinking I can do everything (or anything) in my own power. Itâs sick.
6. The image of a child is constantly playing in my head as well as God reminding me how much he loves me. So, with that I know I need to settle down and rest in him. A friend of mine gave me an image that she saw me just floating in water and thatâs how I could rest in Jesus. This is the same kind of thing.
1. NASB, The Message
Isaiah 30:15-18
New Living Translation (NLT)
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
âOnly in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
16 You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.â
But the only swiftness you are going to see
is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
17 One of them will chase a thousand of you.
Five of them will make all of you flee.
You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill
or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.â
Blessings for the Lordâs People
18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
2.
Threat- : an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
2: one that threatens
3: an indication of something impending the sky held a threat of rain
Indication of something impending, an intention to inflict injury or damage.
Currently weâre waiting to hear an answer to prayer, and it seems that the answer could indeed inflict a lot of hurt and disappointment. That it could point to a lot more waiting and hurting, a lesson weâve thought weâve learned is going to be repeated, when we really wish for a fresh blessing of pure joy instead. The previous joy was not tempered by the hurt that preceded it, but it was exhausting. And the thought makes me want to pick up my âmatâ and run instead of wait at all.
3. Fleeing for me in this instance would be to ignore it all. Ignore the longing of my heart, ignore the idea of waiting through pain and rejection, and just love the life I have and not ask for anything more of God (in regard to that request I mentioned above) ever.
4.
I kind of stink at the whole compare and contrast thing, Iâm more likely to just say how the verses speak to me, and how they relate. So, here goes that…(A+ for not following directions Beth? Sorry!)
Isaiah seems to be like a town crier saying âReturn to God! Itâs the only way! Youâll be safe in God!â Which is always an important reminder. Especially in times of temptation. Both James and 1Peter seem to give style points and encouragement on how to return, remain and dwell in the safety of the Lord. And most importantly how to NOT flee from the things that we fear.
5. Did I need to hear âSettle Downâ? Yes, in many ways my impatience with God and the situations of life comes in the form of anxiousness. Perpetual email checking. Facebook and twitter reading without posting much myself. I draw in in my angst and my wheels spin. I can do this and still be a good mom because in my own strength I demand of myself only a certain number of moments away from the attention of my son. But my wheels keep spinning in my mind. (So perhaps Iâm a good mom, but not a great one. He deserves my best) Even my prayers were anxiously expecting the ANSWER and not the healing, restorative and protective presence of my God.
6. 1Peter reminds me of a movie âThe Ghost and the Darknessâ (Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas). The movie is about two lions that terrorize a railroad project in Africa. For some reason these lions had developed a taste for human blood and were drawn to the odor of their fear. They would hunt the people and torture them before killing them, which is not a natural Lion behavior. They became demon lions. This verse reminds me that Satan does hunt and terrorize the souls of men. He uses our own fears of minor, temporary hurt to try to keep us captive and separate from God and His Goodness. His threats of pain inspire our natural âFight or Flightâ response, and our temptation to run or flee is great. James tells us in that moment of temptation to Yell loudly at that Lion, and he will scamper away like a kitten. And even our slightest whisper to God will bring Him to us immediately. (Because He never leaves or forsakes us anyway right?) How do we overcome the fear? The Message says âGet Serious, Get on your knees before the Masterâ
Thank you Beth for this opportunity. I did need it.
1.) Amplified Bible, Message, NIVÂ
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. You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee
at the threat of one;
at the threat of five
you will all flee away,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill.” Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isaiah 30:15-18 NIV)
2.) threat- 1) an expression of intent to inflict evil, injury or damage. 2) one that threatens 3) an indication of something impending. This is the time of year that I usually make my biggest mistakes. I’m not sure what it is or why but the closer we get to spring the stronger i feel the feeling of impending failure. As if Satan is mocking me saying, ” you’ll screw up again, you always do! You can’t be good for much longer!”Â
3) Fleeing in my life usually means relocation. When I feel like I’m messing up I move somewhere where people aren’t familiar with my failures to try to start over. But that constant change prevents me from growing some roots and facing my mistakes. I’m not currently in feeling mode, more in fighting mode! Trying to not give in to the temptation to allow Satan to get another victory!Â
4) (James 4:7) Wow, I had no idea that verse was on/in this, but it speaks perfectly to where I am!!!Â
5) Settle down? Yes!! Lord yes!!! I get so hyped up about making sure I don’t screw up “tomorrow” that I forget to commit today to the Lord!!!Â
6) God reminded me that the victory I have in him right now came from my day to day walk with Him! I can’t neglect that, I can’t stop walking or I’ll start falling! And the more attention I give to a possible failure the more hopeless I feel to say NO!!!!Â
1. NIV, NET & AMP below
Isaiah 30:15-18
Amplified Bible (AMP)
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,
16 And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
17 One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.
18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
2. Definition:
“an indication or warning of probable trouble: The threat of a storm was in the air.”
The phrase warning of probable trouble caught my eye. Meaning it has not happened yet — and I let it rule over me. The threat of what will happen to my children, to my marriage, to my family.
3. When I flee I don’t do anything. I freeze, ignore things. I think I have already fled. I don’t feel the same closeness with God. Something is missing. I want the same passion to come back. My word for the year is “deeper” with that I mean deeper in my studies, understanding, relationship with God. Not deeper in my own flesh and mire.
4. Contending with the enemy will entail some suffering because it means contending with his greatest ally, my flesh. There will be inconveniences and discomfort. But like you said, Beth in the Daniel lesson our group watched last night, have a death grip on God and use my left hook once in a while to shoo away the enemy. Our life on earth – our joys and sufferings – is but 10 minutes in the clock of eternity.
5. Settle down because I have let other things distract me – pretty colorful things called scrapbooking (Project Life). It has consumed my mind about the kits to get, the albums, the pictures to take and print and the method of printing this year’s and last year’s photos. In the big scheme of things – what does it really matter if my pages are not as pretty as the others? Just do it and get on with life. Don’t spend too much time on things that are not important at the expense of neglecting to do homework for Precept Upon Precept Hebrews class. (Or when I do the homework, taking shortcut by using the Find feature in Word!)
6. It all seemed to harmless and innocent but riding on that scrapbooking steed has taken so much from me in terms of time and effort. Reading these verses, I realize God has not abandoned me. He is waiting. That when I go off ordering stuff from Amazon and spending hours upon hours gazing at other people’s layouts or finding the right photo printer, instead of doing my homework, God is still waiting. Patiently. Oh our God is so faithful.
I so long to have godly wisdom and discernment. I long for that connection with God again. I’m sorry that I have been distracted and gone off on something not even important. I’m so ashamed. Forgive me, Father. Please help me refocus and go deeper with You.
1. NKJV, NLT, MSG
From the NLT:
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
âOnly in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
16 You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.â
But the only swiftness you are going to see
is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
17 One of them will chase a thousand of you.
Five of them will make all of you flee.
You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill
or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.
18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
2. an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
3. I tend to “hide” by isolating myself — not dealing with my emotions or bringing things to the light spiritually.
4. I must resist the enemy by standing steadfast in the faith and allowing God to settle me and strengthen me.
5. I must rest in faith and not be anxious.
6. The battle is the Lord’s, not mine. My job is to wait and trust.
Just realized I forgot to answer the 2nd part of #2 — I would say I am burdened for our unsaved loved ones. That is where I am fighting in prayer.
1. I read NIV, ESV, and NLT
– Isaiah 30:15-18 (NLT)
15
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: â¨âOnly in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. â¨In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.
16
You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.ââ¨But the only swiftness you are going to see⨠is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
17
One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hillâ¨or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.â
Blessings for the Lordâs People
18
So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. â¨For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
2. Threat â an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage; an indication or warning of probable trouble
– I feel the threats of the enemy. I am not fearful of him because I know that the devil is under authority of God and I am the daughter of God so he cannot destroy me even though he tries. Often I feel the threats of the enemyâs scheme to distract me from my focus on Jesus.
– Yesterday, I felt like a certain girl threatened my âterritoryâ. She is very likable and outgoing, and I didnât want to invite her to hangout with my friends and I out of fear that they would like her more, and she would become the center of attention. Oh wow Iâm so messed up.
3. Fleeing in my life looks a lot like me leaning on my own understanding and sense of control over a situation instead of giving it all to God and allowing Him to do with the situation as He desires. In other words, I flee because of my lack of trust and faith to be completely dependent on God. I donât know why Iâm sometimes fearful that God isnât going to come through, which boils down to the fact that in those situations Iâm not believing God is who He says He is.
âJesus, I repent of this sin in my life. I believe You are who You say You are, but please help my unbelief. I need You!â
4. In James 4:7, the Word commands us to humble ourselves and resist the devil. That right there is perfect for this passage because if we resist the devil and look to Jesus, we will not be prideful. The reason the Israelites made a decision about placing their trust in Egypt and their horses was because they were prideful and trusted in their own understanding. This is exactly what I do. When I lean on my understanding and do what I think should be done instead of trusting in God, I am worshiping myself. My actions are preaching the message that I believe I have a greater plan than God. Wow, Iâm so prideful. When I am doing this, I am doing the opposite of resisting the devil. Instead, Iâm listening and believing his lies.
âJesus, I repent of my pride. Thank you for Your blood that has covered my sins and the grace You lavish over me that leads me to repentance. Holy Spirit, lead and control me. Jesus, I love and value you more than I love myself. I place my hope and trust in You and You alone. Quicken this heart of mine and convict me when I begin to trust in my own understanding and not Yours. I ask this in your precious name, Jesus.â
5. Yes, I get so worked up and focused on the ministry that God, in all of His grace, has given me that I will replace it with settling down, resting, and being quiet in the presence of the Most High. That is where I most love to be, but my flesh is so rebellious against making time everyday to do so.
6. God is clearly telling me to stop relying fully on myself, my spiritual leaders, and the tangible things of this world. He is calling me walk in faith and to love the secret place with Him because that is where I find my anointing, instruction, direction, and most importantly His presence. I canât believe I take the miraculous privilege of being able to be in His presence so lightly. âSo then, since we have a great High Priest, who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do. Yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Thank you Beth for listening to the Holy Spirit and being obedient to Him! I needed this SO much, and it was so by Godâs divine intervention that I even stumbled upon your tweet today. I am praying for you, and just know that I love and appreciate you so much. I feel like I know you even though weâve never met. Oh the power of God is amazing! I see the evidence of the Holy Spirit and the power of God working in and through you (2 Corinthians 6:6,7). Thank you for everything and all the glory be to God!
1-Read MSG, NLT, NIV â84; NASB,
This is what the Sovereign LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
âOnly in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
16 You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.â
But the only swiftness you are going to see
is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
17 One of them will chase a thousand of you.
Five of them will make all of you flee.
You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill
or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.â
Blessings for the LORDâs People
18 So the LORD must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the LORD is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help. NLT
2-Threat-an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage : one that threatens : an indication of something impending <the sky held a threat of rain
Right now I do not feel threatened by anyone. A financial situation has me a bit anxious but it is not threatening. Thank You Lord!
3-It depends on what I am fleeing from! I hibernate i.e. donât communicate with anyone and donât go out not even to church. I distract myself with reading, TV, computer games, surf the internet. If necessary I will try to figure out how to avoid the threat or combat it; sometimes with my own ideas and lately more often I lay it out before the Lord. I donât think I am in fleeing mode right now.
4-These verse are a call to not flee but stand and fight, resist. Scary yes, but I am not alone. Dangerous and tough, wounding? Oh yes, but the result will be victory and my God will brush me off, stand me up, and fix any hurt making me strong in Him.
5-Yes I need to be reminded to âsettle down.â There are things I have been praying for and I get anxious. I have a daughter who is a Buddhist, an unbelieving son-in-law, a disabled daughter struggling financially and with loneliness, and a son trying to make ends meet with his growing family. I needed to be reminded to settle down, and have confidence and trust in my God Who knows all this. Time to not fret but stand and dance!
6-In reading through my response to #5 I see that I am indeed threatened by Satan who is always ready to attack and looks for vulnerabilities. I need to pay attention and not be distracted when he is attacking my family. I have been praying for each them and actively but I think perhaps God is calling me to some very specific and focused prayer. Not sure how this will look Lord but oh show me, my precious ones need it.
ESV
MSG
AMP
Isaiah 30:15-18 AMP
15Â For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,
16Â And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
17Â One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.
18Â And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
Threat:
1: An expression of intention to inflict evil, injury or damage
2: One that threatens
3: An indication of something impending
I feel threatened in this season by change. For about a year now Iâve felt on the precipice of some kind of big change – the threat of change – an indication of something impending. I wish I knew what the impending change is, or that it would get here already and switch from being a threat to being an actuality, because then I could just deal with it.
I flee by trying to control everything… I will speed my own course on a horse if I have to! In my head Iâm so wishing I could flee this impending change, or make it happen already, but in my heart I know I need to be return, to rest, be quiet, have confidence and earnestly wait for Him.
Clearly, submission to God (returning, resting, trusting confidence, etc.) goes hand in hand with resisting the devil (enemies, one that threatens). Both Isaiah and Peter speak of waiting, and âa little whileâ, before God restores, confirms, strengthens, establishes, is gracious, has mercy, shows loving-kindness.
For me, âsettle downâ speaks to the worry. I donât need to worry about this. đ
6. Oh, the list of things God is and desires to be to me is so big! And the threat of the enemy is so small in comparison. His way is so much better than my way. I will rest in Him.
GNT; MSG; NKJV
â15 The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says to the people, âCome back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure.â But you refuse to do it. 16 Instead, you plan to escape from your enemies by riding fast horses. And you are rightâescape is what you will have to do! You think your horses are fast enough, but those who pursue you will be faster! 17 A thousand of you will run away when you see one enemy soldier, and five soldiers will be enough to make you all run away. Nothing will be left of your army except a lonely flagpole on the top of a hill. 18 And yet the LORD is waiting to be merciful to you. He is ready to take pity on you because he always does what is right. Happy are those who put their trust in the LORD.â Is.30:15-18; GNT
Threat: The expression of an intention to cause harm or pain.
In my life today, at times I feel threatened by what others think about me, and what they might be saying behind my back. I guess Iâve always been codependent this way, but I used to live in oblivion to threats of any kind. I honestly didnât consider anyone my enemy, but I discovered that there are people who really do want to see me fail (theyâve told me as much) and there are others who hate me for being a Christian.
Fleeing: I do avoid these people and in a sense, I am fleeing from their negativity.
1 Peter 5:8-10: â8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers (around) the world are going through the same kind of sufferings. 10 But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.â
James 4:7:
â7 So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.â
Final thoughts: Whenever I return to trusting God, I become a happy person again. I love how simple the Message put it when Beth, you wrote âSettle down!â I selected Good News Translation because of the words, âCome back, and quietly trust in me.â I find myself returning to that quiet place of trust in God regularly, and he becomes my peace.
This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
âOnly in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
16 You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.â
But the only swiftness you are going to see
is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
17 One of them will chase a thousand of you.
Five of them will make all of you flee.
You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill
or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.â
Blessings for the Lordâs People
18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help. NLT
NIV and NKJ
2.A threat is a POSSIBLE warning of trouble.
3.Problems coming up with my Mom accepting I need to move in with her for her health reasons.
4. The other two verses are telling me again what Isaiah was saying, plainer.
5. I need to settle down and let the Lord work this out in His time.
6. I’ve been reacting to the perception of a threat; comments made by Mom in her confusion that I take as a threat. They are not. If I will just wait, give her time, and give the Lord time to work out all of the details, His perfect will, will come to pass.
Isaiah 30:15-18
King James Version (KJV)
Isaiah 30:15-18
New International Version (NIV)
Isaiah 30:15-18
Good News Translation (GNT)
15 The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says to the people, âCome back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure.â But you refuse to do it. 16 Instead, you plan to escape from your enemies by riding fast horses. And you are rightâescape is what you will have to do! You think your horses are fast enough, but those who pursue you will be faster! 17 A thousand of you will run away when you see one enemy soldier, and five soldiers will be enough to make you all run away. Nothing will be left of your army except a lonely flagpole on the top of a hill. 18 And yet the Lord is waiting to be merciful to you. He is ready to take pity on you because he always does what is right. Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord.
2. THREAT a. A declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc. in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course; menace
b. an indication or warning of probable trouble
c. a person or thing that threatens
Right now I am being threatened by a pastor who I feel is not preaching the right doctrine. He is a wonderful person and loves the Lord, but I come from a strong Baptist evangelical background. The church I am attending now is not Baptist but the denomination has the same beliefs (checked them out thoroughly before I joined.) We have a new minister who is Calvinist. He teaches election and believes there is no Biblical proof at all for the pretribulation belief. While I agree that these two issues do not determine a person’s salvation and that they are relatively minor, I am uncomfortable. I love my church and it has so many wonderful people and I am involved in many groups—this is the church where I did my first Beth Moore study. I am trying to discern whether to stay in this church or “to run.â
3. Fleeing looks like this: I leave this church and try to find one with a pastor who is preaching the beliefs inherent in the denomination. BUT—I have been in churches that certainly preached the right doctrine but some of these were dead as a doornail and were just “playing church.” This church I am attending now is ON FIRE!!!!! OR, I sort of flee. This is what I am doing right now. We have so many pastors and so many activities that I am attending these things and avoiding that pastor as much as possible. I do not want to leave this church or to cause a problem.
4. 1 Peter 5:8-10
Good News Translation (GNT)
8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings. 10 But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.
James 4:7
Good News Translation (GNT)
7 So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.
5. When I read your tweet this morning, I thought maybe the “settle down” meant I should quit worrying about this and just settle down in the church and look at the big picture of all the good that is done in that church. It is a wonderful church that loves Jesus with all its heart. Then I read these verses and I think that maybe the Devil is the one telling me to stay here and that I need to find another church and settle down there.
6. Unfortunately, I am not certain I have gained any particular insight. Maybe it is to settle down here and wait for the Lord to call this man to some other church. Indeed, maybe that is the answer.
1. I will not write out the whole three veses for the sake of brevity but I read in in the ASB and ESV as well as NKJV. To me what spoke loudly was in rest and quietness and trust in HIM is our salvation. Hastily we often place it in our own reasoning etc and this will leave us totally unprotected like a flag ship on a mountain.
2. Threat (Oxford English) 1. An expression of one’s intention to punish or hurt a person or thing. 2. An indication of something undesirable.3. A person or thing regarded as liable to bring danger or catstrophe.
3. Fleeing to me looks like moving at the speed of light!!!! Leaving all else behind even a Starbucks latte! I am prone to flee confrontation!
4. Comparing the two passages with the main text to me again is the element of being watchful, sober and quiet ly submitting to Him not running off on a wild tangent. That is what the Devil wants, is for us to not give much thought but just follow our own ways etc.
5. No! I am not hearing “settle down” as much as I am forced to say it right now!!!
6. Oh!Boy! Now, I am known in our circle of Bible friends to come up with something intirely different than every one else does! Here’s my take on this all!
For years we have had a nieghborhood Bible study. Women have come and gone but there have been afew of us who have been in it for the long haul. One very sweet gal has facilitated several times and is one of the best intercessory prayers I have heard in a long time. I value her friend ship. Lately, however, she seems to have drifted and is buying into a very radical philosophy. She posts views of a liberal organization which runs contrary to God’s Word on a social network daily. The Bible study leader and I have discussed this and I felt we could no longer allow her to facilitate given her views seem to run so contrary to the Word. Now I hate confrontation but to look the other way is not what we are to do either. The leader and I both prayed about it. we feel she has bought into this thinking without consulting the Lord. This thinking clearly puts us at odds with His Word if we just blindly buy into something without quietly pondering His Word and asking His guidence we will place our trust inmere horses. We confronted her and for now it appears we have lost a friendship. This is not easy but Jesus did say in Matt 10:34 “I have not come to bring peace into the world but a sword”. You have stated many times Beth that His Word is sharper than a two-edged sword. We are not always gona be popular when we take a stand and put our confidence in Him and it is only going to get more difficult as we see the day approaching but we need to be vigilent and sober minded. Not being taken up by any false teaching or the stregnth of horses.
Bless you Beth and love you much! Will be looking for you on Life Today!!!!
Hugs from the Heartland!
Betty M
1. NIV, The Message, NLT. âThis is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: âOnly in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.â But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.â So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
2. Threat: A declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc. in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course, menace. An indication or warning of probably trouble. I feel most threatened that Satan is trying to get me to be so insecure in who I am that I wonât live up to my potential as a new wife. Iâve prayed for years to get married and just saw the answer to that prayer less than 2 months ago. I spend most of my time lecturing myself about ways I donât measure up. (My husband does NOT add to that â heâs very encouraging!)
3. I flee from this threat most by retreating âinto my turtle shellâ as I call it â becoming quiet and being afraid to honestly voice my concerns. My husband is good to draw it out of me but my reaction is usually to just curl up and try to ignore it.
4. Never thought about the presence of Christ causing Satan to retreat âinto his turtle shellââŚkind of like that picture. Also hadnât considered how many other wives probably feel the same way and how God will allow me to experience this but will ultimately ESTABLISH me as the wife He made me to be.
5. Yes â and I need to hear it from the Lord because it sounds less condemning than when (even well-meaning) friends say it.
6. I need to munch on the 1 Peter passage for a while. This was the hope that I needed to believe God has a purpose for me and I need to persevereâŚ
1. KJV, AMP, MSG; For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In
               returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in
               [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,  And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses!
               Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon
               swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so
               swift that]  One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them;
               at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon  or  a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on
               a hill.  And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking,
               and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may
               have mercy on you  and  show loving-kindness to you. For the
               Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who
               [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect  and  look  and  long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His
               peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! (Isaiah 30:15-18 AMP)
2. Threat: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury or damage. I don’t feel threatened in this season, but this definition does make me think of how we’ve exalted circumstances in our life to a point that they become a threat to God’s plan for us. We’ll believe the negative report or will anticipate negative results instead of what God has said in His Word.
3. Fleeing looks like me settling and not pursuing God’s dream for my life in full; not stepping out in faith; not trusting God and settling for anything in desperation.
4. All 3 passages make clear that if we aren’t submitted to God, we are powerless against the evil one. We can’t stand against the devil in our own power. The passages also speak of God’s grace and redemption even after we’ve suffered from doing things our own way
5. Yes! I need to hear the words”settle down”! Settling down for me means that I need to SINK down in God’s promises for me; He needs to become my only source; trust and ONLY believe.
6. It’s my time for His Word to be fulfilled in my life. It’s no coincidence that I’m here at this time and partaking of this ministry because God wants me to go to the next level and that will only come by settling down in Him!
PS A short bit to the end of my post! It is interesting to see that the is a parrellel between the fleeing of those who put thier confidence in things other than God and the fleeing of the Devil. At the mere threat of one thousands will flee etc. This tells me that Satan too will flee like he is on a swift horse at the mere threat of God’s Word. He knows the mere threat of His Word will knock him out! Why then shall we be afraid of what man can do??
Wendy G â Anderson IN â Homework Assignment
1. NLT, MSG, ESV ( I tried to pick just oneâŚ.but failedâŚ)
God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right (MSG)
15-17 GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
âYour salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on meâ The very thing youâve been unwilling to do.
Youâve said, âNothing doing! Weâll rush off on horseback!â
Youâll rush off, all right! Just not far enough!
Youâve said, âWeâll ride off on fast horses!â
Do you think your pursuers ride old nags?
Think again: A thousand of you will scatter before one attacker.
Before a mere five youâll all run off.
Thereâll be nothing left of youâ
a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.â
Blessings for the LORDâs People (NLT)
18 So the LORD must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the LORD is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
2. From Websterâs New World College Dictionary (Thanks to you my 8th grade typing teacher who gave me my first and currently only locatable dictionary!)
THREAT: A throng, painful pressure, to grieve, annoy, to push, press 1. An expression of intention to hurt, destroy punish, etc., as in retaliation or intimidation 2. An indication of imminent danger, harm, evil, etc.
When reading through this the words popping out on my page are painful pressure, to grieve, and annoy. Most of my life I have struggled with trusting God, which just annoys the snot out of me. The Lord has been so faithful to me and so many times I chose to live the life of an Israelite wandering around a desert. I get so annoyed with myself, when I think of the opportunities I have missed because of my stubbornness or unfaithfulness. If Iâm annoyed, then how much more must I have grieved the Lord. In my current season I feel a painful pressure to do for the Lord. Whatâs so bad about that? Itâs all about the attitude. Am I truly investing my time into things I feel called to do by the Lord or am I in some crazy way attempting to earn my salvation? Is my heart in the right place?
3. By the Grace of God Iâm not currently in flightâŚ.however Iâve racked up enough frequent flier miles to send the whole Living Proof team to Hawaii in back, if ya know what I mean!! My issues have always been with trusting God. So in the past when things started to get a little tough, or stray from the plans I thought God had for me, I packed my bags and headed out on my own. Making decisions on my own, putting myself, money, at times just about anything before God. Thankfully in my current season, I have been able to grow in my faith and have begun to trust God even in some baby steps, which is a huge deal for me. I know Iâm only able through the power of Christ and prayer to stay out a pit of depression that the enemy has in the past quite frequently landed my flights.
4. So when I read the verses in Isaiah I thought, this is just what I needed to hear! My strength comes from complete dependence on GodâŚ.trusting GodâŚ.the very thing Iâve been unwilling to do. So the Lord has to wait on me. Why have I been unwilling? Oh yeah, thatâs right thank you 1 Peter. Because the devil is poised to pounce and in the past has quite frequently found me napping. Sometimes it wasnât just that I had let my guard down, but that I completely ignored God and didnât even bring my guard with me to the battle. Why then am I surprised when things go awry? I have to let God work his will in me. I have to quit dabbling in sin and purify my inner life. Hit bottom and cry my eyes out? Get down on my knees before the Master? I would say in 2012 I most certainly hit bottom. I wasnât even a chase for the enemy, I walked right up to him, no guard and said no need to pounce Iâll just come quietly with you. I almost let him destroy everything dear to me before God finally broke through the lies and shouted NO to the devil on my behalf. But it wasnât before Satan had ripped me into pieces. The only thing I could do was cry my eyes out. Get down on my knees? Ever heard of facetime? No I didnât type a number into my phone to connect with the Lord, I spent days on my face, in tears, with my broken pieces out for God to see begging him to put them back together. The last eight months of my life have been about quitting living a double life and allowing God to purify my inner life. I donât want to the Lord to have to wait on me any longer. Iâm saying Yes God! Please, Yes, work Your will in me!
5. Settle down. Due to the rambunctious spirit the Lord gave me, I have heard those two words from countless people in my past, mom, grandma, teachers, bus drivers. I was blessed with a loud laugh and the inability to speak at a whisper ď To hear it straight from the Lord, well itâs a little hard to hear. But so needed. With the holidays past us I think of the busyness they brought and the chance now to catch my breath, then I realize that Iâm still waiting to catch my breath. Being at home with two toddlers all day, somehow the day passes by and I canât believe itâs time for bed. We are constantly on the go and even in the times when we are just home, moments fly by with turns playing games on the iphone or playing in the snow, or dressing up. It seems so difficult these days to settle down, to take time to soak up the Holiness of God. Yes I have my hour in the morning, just me and God, but I struggle taking His presence with me in those precious moments throughout my entire day.
6. Trust me. That is what I feel like the Lord is saying to me today. Lean on me, depend ONLY on me. This has just been a theme in my life for a while now. I canât tell you how incredibly special it makes me feel that Christ loves me so much that he just keeps sending me notes of encouragement. I canât help but smile like a little kid opening their lunch box seeing a note from mom inside. Thank you Lord for Your love! I pray that through your glorious unlimited resources, you continue to give me mighty inner strength through your Holy Spirit. I pray that You will be more and more at home in my heart as I learn to trust you more each day. I pray that you refine me and purify me, and that my roots go down deep into your marvelous love!! (Eph. 3:16-17)
KJV, HCSB, and the NLT- Mine is the NLT
This is what the Sovereign LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
âOnly in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
16 You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.â
But the only swiftness you are going to see
is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
17 One of them will chase a thousand of you.
Five of them will make all of you flee.
You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill
or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.â
Blessings for the LORDâs People
18 So the LORD must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the LORD is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
2. threat- the declaration of intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc.; or the person/thing making that declaration. At times, I am my biggest threat. I lose focus and attack myself for things Iâve done. I sometimes see only the negative. I also tend to worry too much about what others think of me.
3. Iâm not in fleeing mode, but I have in the past! Iâm more the bury my head in the sand and hope it goes away type.
4. Compare or contrast the Isaiah text (30:15-18) to 1 Peter 5:8-10 and James 4:7. Both Isaiah 30:15-18 and 1 Peter 5:8-10 talk about drawing strength from God⌠in the first, they refuse. In the verse from James, we see that when we donâtâ draw on our own strength, and humble ourselves, we have more power over the enemy.
5. Do you perchance need to hear the words âsettle down!â as much as I do? If so, why? Yes! I tend to allow myself to get overwhelmed too easily.
6. I loved how in the NLT translation, it talks about how the only way we find rest is by returning to Him. This means He is willing to accept us after we stray. Our strength in God is quiet⌠too many times we tend to loudly boast our strength. And God is a gentleman. He waits on us⌠but He is waiting because He is compassionate and merciful. Thank You, Jesus!
1. NET, NASB, NLT
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:â¨âOnly in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.â¨In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.â¨16 You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle. But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!â¨17 One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.â
18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. -Isaiah 30:15-18 (NLT)
2. Definition of threat
1) a statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not done. Law a menace of bodily harm, such as may restrain a personâs freedom of action.
2) a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger
[in singular] the possibility of trouble, danger, or ruin
[mass noun]: thousands of rail freight jobs came under threat
Origin: Old English thrÄat ‘oppression’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch verdrieten ‘grieve’, German verdriessen ‘irritate’
*LOVE the origins words: grieve … irritate – đ
I feel somewhat threatened, in general, with the current situations in our world. Not in a fearful kind of way, but in an âbe alertâ kind of way – make sense? Not jumpy, but watchful. Not a bad feeling, makes me long for âHOMEâ!
3. âFleeingâ for me physically tends to be wanting to curl up in my bed and pull covers over my head. Emotionally, it is just not dealing with something until it HAS to be dealt with – procrastination mixed with bury-my-head-in-the-sand:)
4. Compare 1 Peter 5:8-10 and James 4:7
Well, isnât that interesting, didnât read those before I wrote the above. God tells us to be on the alert.
5. I am hearing more – âstay on guard, but TRUST MEâ. Be smart … be wise.
6. We need to be aware of satanâs schemes but not preoccupied with them. I pray almost daily for wisdom and discernment. But I know from my past that I canât let up. God is calling me to be alert, to stay immersed in His WORD … to âbe as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.â (Matthew 10:16 NASB)
Isaiah 30 15-18
GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
âYour salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on meâ
The very thing
youâve been unwilling to do.
Youâve said, âNothing doing! Weâll rush off on horseback!â
Youâll rush off, all right! Just not far enough!
Youâve said, âWeâll ride off on fast horses!â
Do you think your pursuers ride old nags?
Think again: A thousand of you will scatter before one attacker.
Before a mere five youâll all run off.
Thereâll be nothing left of youâ
a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.â
18 But GODâs not finished. Heâs waiting around to be gracious to you.
Heâs gathering strength to show mercy to you.
GOD takes the time to do everything rightâeverything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
Definition of Threat- an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
Today I feel most threatened by my husband potentially losing his job and how will we find additional income to meet our financial obligations.
What does fleeing look like: Tons of Worry and over-thinking
**Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life & Get serious.
** Stay alert/ keep guard up
***settle down in complete dependence on me.
settle down –
Yes I do itâs what I havenât been doing. I have been a worried mess.
6. I need to trust, rest & live in Him and not go about life and trails without him. I need a daily quite time and I struggle to be still and quite with God.
1. God is telling us to pray and listen to Him for our strength and answers, but instead of turning it over to the Lord, we try to take it into our hands and handle it our way. We make a mess of things, but God waits for us to come back to Him and listen.
2. a) an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage; b) one that threatens;
c) an indication of something impending (the sky held a threat of rain).
3. Fleeing in my life is to lose myself in a book or get busy with busy work instead of dealing with the challenge. No, I donât think I am in the fleeing mode right now.
4. Each of these verses are instructing us to rely on the Lord to resist the devil instead of trying to handle it ourselves.
5. Settle down and rely on the Lord!
6. Stop giving it to Him and taking it back. Trust the Lord!
1. I chose to look up the passages in the NIV, CEV, and the MES versions. Here is the CEV version that spoke to me:
The holy Lord God of Israel had told all of you, âI will keep you safe if you turn back to me
and calm down. I will make you strong if you quietly trust me.â Then you stubbornly said,
âNo! We will safely escape on speedy horses.â But those who chase you will be even faster.
As few as five of them, or even one, will be enough to chase a thousand of you. Finally, all that will be left
will be a few survivors as lonely as a flag pole on a barren hill. The Lord God is waiting
to show how kind he is and to have pity on you. The Lord always does right; he blesses those who trust him.
2. Threat: an indication of something impending
I think I am most threatened that Satan wants to attack me in some way. I tend to worry about our finances because my husbands job has been so inconsistent the past 3+ years. I stay at home and every year that becomes more of a challenge (should I go to work? I know I am called to be home⌠that dilemma) But now more than ever I trust God. Why do I feel threatened? I am not sure- But I do know it is where Satan likes to attack me. I am winning the battle and learning how to let go of that bondage. This past year in particular I canât get enough of HIS Word and just want to learn more and more. So my biggest threat is that as I win the battle (My Victory with Christ!) over my worry of finances What else will Satan threaten me with? I trust GOD and know that HIS plan is bigger than I can fathom. So really Satan can threaten all he wants but GOD has me and Satan will always lose!
3.I am more prone to flee when I get overwhelmed with too many commitments. When that happens I procrastinate and waste time with distractions that arenât productive. I feel that right now I am balancing everything pretty well and preparing myself for the next few weeks when I have a lot of things coming up. Learning to take things as they come and donât stress about the future, which I have no control over.
4. The Isaiah text is âhowâ I act. The Peter and James verses are how I âneed and shouldâ react to Satan and his attacks. Resist Satan- Draw closer to God, trust in HIM.
5.Whenever I go through something difficult it can become everything- all consuming. Learning to rest in HIS word and just TRUST in him, not making âitâ become everything is the best way. I need to focus on him and trust that HE has it and then I need to be done and get out of the way so God can do his work. âSettle Downâ it not that big of a deal.
6. I believe God is telling me to not be afraid and to stand with him and face whatever may come. He wants me to trust him and know that HE has it. Pastor Rick Warren has a saying that I have started repeating this year âGOD is GOD and I am notâ (Repeat 3 times daily) so many things I donât âgetâ or understand. Hey I donât need to because I am not GOD. I just need to trust and obey.
Thank you for posting this today! A great way to start my day-in HIS Word!
1. I read NIV84, NKJV & Message. God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on meâ The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do. You’ve said, ‘Nothing doing! We’ll rush off on horseback!’ You’ll rush off, all right! Just not far enough! You’ve said, ‘We’ll ride off on fast horses!’ Do you think your pursuers ride old nags? Think again: A thousand of you will scatter before one attacker. Before a mere five you’ll all run off. There’ll be nothing left of youâ a flagpole on a hill with no flag, a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.” (Isaiah 30:15-17 MSG)
2. Threat: a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc., in retaliation for, or conditionally upon, some action or course; menace. Though thankfully it’s not constant, I’ve been threatened recently by the fear that I had disappointed God and His precious people. I was reassured by many godly people that I hadn’t but the thought of that was crushing! His truth has since freed me.
3. I am most prone to flee by sitting in my bathroom floor crying out to God, talking to or being with one of my godly BFFs or sitting as close as I can get to my husband. I’m not in fleeing mode now but was from Aug 6-Mid Oct almost daily.
4. The enemy is always looking for an opportunity to attack. It’s up to us to eliminate those opportunities. We do that by submitting to God through obedience. These scriptures show how victory is won when we do and the disaster that can occur when we don’t. The beautiful result of submitting to God is safety and rest.
5. I don’t need to be told to settle down very often but I appreciate those words. There are times when I forget that I don’t have to handle everything but should turn to Him and cast my cares on Him. Good to be reminded.
6. He’s reminding me of all of the pain in life that could have been avoided by doing what these scriptures say. And to STAY submitted to avoid further unnecessary pain. He always has my best in mind. I trust Him and in that I find strength!
1. NIV, NKJV, NLT
This is what the Sovereign LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
âOnly in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
16 You said, âNo, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.â
But the only swiftness you are going to see
is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
17 One of them will chase a thousand of you.
Five of them will make all of you flee.
You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill
or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.â
18 So the LORD must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the LORD is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
2. threat- an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
I feel this in my season of life now through Satan trying to rip away or threaten my value as a wife, mother, and teacher. Balancing all three of these âhatsâ I wear is very difficult and I know Satan would like nothing more than to threaten these areas of my life as I seek to do them to the best of my ability. My personality is one that wants to be perfect at all three and when I donât attain that or feel them slipping away then I know Satan is attacking me. Itâs all apart of the enemyâs plan. BUTâŚGod is good!
3. Fleeing in my life is secluding myself and working harder at the things mentioned in #2. This is strange for me because Iâm an extrovert. You would think I would flee towards people or activities, but I donât. I will avoid friends, conversations, etc. I just become a hermit and try to solve it all on my own by making lists, writing down promises that I need to keep, saying Iâll do this or that. (which never works..) I donât feel Iâm fleeing now, but I feel on the verge of fleeing often. Thankfully, God rescues me and brings me back to where I need to be.
4. These verses all speak of the devil seeking to devour or pursing a believer. It also follows up with Christâs compassion and grace that he gives us all. As a result, the devil flees and we can rest in Christ and gain strength.
5. Oh yes! I need to always hear that Christ will rescue me and bring me back to Himself while providing strength, compassion, and grace! Praise Jesus that he pursues us and will flee away Satan. Great words for someone who is often prone to flee. Fleeing is good if youâre fleeing to the arms of Jesus!
6. The Lord spoke to me through this passage in a way that says no matter how swiftly your enemies pursue you, He pursues me quicker. I will find rest and repentance in Him and Him alone. IF I choose to take it. In 1 Peter, the passage said to be self-controlled. Thatâs part of the deal. I have to take some steps. Itâs always good to hear how the Lord wants to be gracious to His people. I pray I patiently wait for Him to work in my life!
1.)
I read The message, NIV and ESV
Isaiah 30:15-18
English Standard Version (ESV)
15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,
âIn returning[a] and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.â
But you were unwilling, 16 and you said,
âNo! We will flee upon horsesâ;
therefore you shall flee away;
and, âWe will ride upon swift steedsâ;
therefore your pursuers shall be swift.
17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;
at the threat of five you shall flee,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
like a signal on a hill.
The LORD Will Be Gracious
18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
2.)
Threat
An expression of an intention to inflict pain, injury, evil, or punishment.
An indication of impending danger or harm.
One that is regarded as a possible danger; a menace.
I feel threatened by the trends of our society; regarding our religious freedoms and rights, particularly in relation to how that will affect my young adult children, and what they believe to be truth.
3.) I think for me when I flee an uncomfortable situation I tend to do nothing and hope the situation just goes away with out my having to do anything. I might try to busy myself with distractions trying to pretend the threat is not there, all the while stressing inwardly over it.
Iâm not sure if this is it fleeing, butâŚperhaps the prospect of going back into the workforce after being a stay at home mom for over 20 years is something I am trying to avoid. I guess I am fleeing the possibility that my âfreedomâ to order my day as I please will be taken away.
4.)
Rather than fleeing from God, we are to submit to him, and flee from the devil. No need to worry, because God has great plans for us!
5.)
Yes. 1 John 5:13-15 tells me to ask in accordance with His will and it shall be given to me.
6.)
I need to stop worrying about the future! I have to TRUST GOD! God loves me, and he loves my husband and my kids more than I do. I need to live each day as he gives it, in His power. Heâs got this! And He blesses generously.
1. I read from NKJV, NASB, and the MSG. The MSG translation spoke loud & clear to me.
30:15 God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me-The very thing youâve been unwilling to do. 30:16 Youâve said, âNothing doing! Weâll rush off on horseback!â Youâll rush off, all right! Just not far enough! Youâve said, âWeâll ride off on fast horses!â Do you think your pursuers ride old nags? 30:17 Think again: A thousand of you will scatter before one attacker. Before a mere five youâll all run off. Thereâll be nothing left of you-a flagpole on a hill with no flag, a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
30:18 But Godâs not finished. Heâs waiting around to be gracious to you. Heâs gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right-everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones. Isaiah 30:15-18 (MSG)
2. Threat: a declaration of the intention to inflict harm, pain, or misery; an indication of imminent harm, danger or pain; a person or thing that is regarded as dangerous or likely to inflict pain or misery; a throng, painful pressure. In this season of my life, I feel threatened by fear of making wrong choices and the imminent consequences; painful pressure of not having enough faith for my needs to be met. What if my prayers arenât answered and everything falls apart.
3. Fleeing looks like running from choices, responsibilities; so overwhelmed, that you canât even make a choice so you run instead. I often think Iâm not good enough and choose to flee by playing it safe and just staying in what I know instead of leaping into the unknown; a bad decision that changed lives and moving on instead of letting God repair the damage. I am not in the fleeing mode right now, trying to be still and surrender to God in everything!
4. Instead of fretting and fleeing, if we would be still, submit to God, resist the devil, and know that God will save us, strengthen us and settle us. He will give us peace and protection and deliverance.
5. Oh yes I need to hear âsettle downâ. I start fretting and trying to figure out how Iâm gonna make it financially, and in relationships instead of waiting on Godâs provision. I stress myself and my family out with my worry and planning.
6. Instead of making plans myself on how things are going to work out, I need to put my full trust in the plan He has already figured out. His plan will always be better than mine. And after I have struggled or suffered for awhile, He will deliver, strengthen and settle me!! He is waiting to do it!!
Isaiah 30:15-18 New English Translation (NET)
15 For this is what the master, the Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: âIf you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, but you are unwilling.
16 You say, âNo, we will flee on horses,â so you will indeed flee. You say, âWe will ride on fast horses,â so your pursuers will be fast.
17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, until the remaining few are as isolated as a flagpole on a mountaintop or a signal flag on a hill.â
The Lord Will Not Abandon His People
18 For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the Lord is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.
15 For this is what the master, the Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: âIf you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, but you are unwilling.
The definition of threat from Websterâs dictionary is âan expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damageâ. I am fleeing from troubles, but he wants me to âBe still and know that he is God.â (Psalm 46:10 paraphrased).
James 4:7 says âSo humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.â
My job is to let God fight the battle instead of fighting it myself. God has been saying this to me for the past two weeks through various scriptures and that still small voice. Every time I have the urge to fix something myself I am praying instead âGod, you said that you would handle this and I am turning it over to you again every time the devil plants it back in my mind.â Praise God that he keeps reminding me of his protection!