A Little Weekend Homework Assignment

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?)  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)  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!!!

 

Share

590 Responses to “A Little Weekend Homework Assignment”

If you'd like your own pic by your comment, go to Gravatar.com. Click the first button "Get your gravatar today ->", and it will walk you through a simple process to select a picture.

Comments:

  1. 401
    Helen says:

    BBE
    ESV

    NET
    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.

    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.

    threat

    A statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution of something done or not done.

    A person or thing likely to cause damage or danger
    The possibility of trouble, danger, or ruin.

    origin-Old English-oppression

    What hits me is “the possibility of trouble, danger, or ruin”. . . because I do feel that I could easily do something that would be “the ruin of me”!! I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to lead Bible Studies, mentor, and love women and yet feel the threat of somehow misrepresenting the Lord.

    Fleeing in my life tends to look like isolating. Probably with eating:( Off the top I might not have recognized it but as I am considering this I realize I am in fleeing mode right now. . .

    4. These passages talk about making a choice, and we are in a place of being able to do that and what we choose determines where we go, being aware the enemy would love to see us destroyed. God Himself will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish me!!! I need to think and choose Him and like Isaiah says to repent, wait, and trust.

    I wasn’t aware that I needed to “settle down” till just now as I am becoming aware of my fear/threat and how it hinders stepping out and doing what He has called me to do.

    6. What a great exercise!! Thank you! Through doing this I realized an underlying fear/threat that I was not aware of before. And on some level I have been the “unwilling” Isaiah mentions in v. 15. . .with thinking that He is somehow not quite big enough to cover/deal with what I might mess up! Thank you Lord for showing me again that You are bigger!!!

    • 401.1

      “These passages talk about making a choice, and we are in a place of being able to do that and what we choose determines where we go, being aware the enemy would love to see us destroyed. God Himself will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish me!!! I need to think and choose Him and like Isaiah says to repent, wait, and trust.” Love this insight you have shared Helen. So true, and such a needed reminder. 🙂 Thank you.

  2. 402
    Jodi Koepke says:

    1. AMP, CEV, NKJV
    Isaiah 30:15-18 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]!

    2. Oxford Dictionary: Definition of threat
    noun
    • 1a 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 person’s freedom of action.
    • 2a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger
    • [in singular] the possibility of trouble, danger, or ruin
    The phrase that most stands out to me is “the possibility of trouble, danger or ruin”. I am a worrier and often feel overwhelmed by thoughts of bad things that could happen (e.g. daughter dying). I have learned to recognise that the enemy knows exactly how to steal my peace if I let him and to take those thoughts captive to Christ. I still have a long way to go though.
    I also recognise in this definition that I already know that Satan has issued a “statement of intention to inflict pain, injury and damage”; he prowls around like a lion. What struck me is that (if I am being really honest) I sometimes feel/act like/ think about God in those terms as well, particularly for things “not done”. Maybe the intention to inflict pain etc is a bit strong for that feeling, but more along the lines of having disappointed God and that He will give up on me/ not fulfil promises. I have wondered at times if I am being punished even though I clearly know that this is in direct opposition to what His word says. It has shown me that there is yet another part of me that I need to surrender and learn to trust on a deeper level (this has been a journey for me already).
    I find the busyness of life, tiredness from chronic sleep deprivation, and a hard to describe feeling of isolation (close friends leaving my church, lack of mentors) feel like my biggest threats in this season. Everything feels like a mammoth effort and it’s easier to just survive and not delve into anything deeper.
    3. Fleeing is more of just shutting down for me. I lose myself in TV, books and mostly mindless day to day life. I focus on the busyness. I ignore the Spirit’s promptings and choose not to look into deeper spiritual matters. I am finally starting to come out of fleeing mode over the past couple of months. It has been a very difficult time with a difficult pregnancy then my daughter’s first year full of severe reflux and sleep issues.
    4. The themes I get from these three verses are submission to God, quiet/settled confidence and dependence on God giving us strength and resisting the enemy to force him to flee. In Isaiah it shows how not resting and trusting in God leads to us fleeing in the face of threats. James and Peter show how when we do, it’s the Devil that flees.
    5. “Settling down” is not the part that stands out as much as “complete dependence”. An ongoing journey for me! Although settling down the anxiety and stress that I harbour is a major part of that.
    6. God has been speaking to me about resting in Him and learning to wait on Him through messages and the verses I’ve been lead to for the Scripture memorisation. This seems to be another depth of this. I recognise how often I “go my own way” and end up fleeing. I feel that this year is gearing up to be a big growth year of new vision and stirring up of gifts but know that the key will be learning to rest and submit to Him to a much greater level. I need that quiet, settled strength that comes from trusting in God. I’m excited to see this journey unfold and feel at peace about taking time to learn/improve on each step before the next is revealed. It makes me realise how far I have come in learning to trust God.

    • 402.1

      Jodi,

      I appreciate what you shared and see a lot of my own story in the words you’ve expressed. What I love most about what you expressed is that you are pursuing His heart for you. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

      Blessings, M

  3. 403
    Lisa Younce says:

    Lisa Younce, Wylie, TX
    I was so blessed to be in attendance for Beth’s taping for Life Today Friday and Saturday! Please know the prayers were answered for Jesus to fill us, teach us, heal us, and thrill us! It was an amazing time of worship, teaching and The Holy Spirit was all over this taping! They said it will be several months before it airs, but it will be a huge blessing to the many who will hear the wonderful teachings Beth gave us!

    1) NIV, ESV,
    Isaiah 30:15-18
    The Message (MSG)
    God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right
    15-17 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
    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 you—
    a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
    a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18 But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
    He’s 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.

    2) Threat ;an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
    This brings to mind the feeling of the something evil that is waiting to happen and in the recent past there had been some instances of this happening. I have had to remember Eph. 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Instead of feeling this threat is from the person who is in the middle of this situation, I remember Satan is the one who is the threat. I pray against him and his schemes.

    3) My tendency for fleeing is to escape into a book or hobby instead of standing up against the things I don’t want to deal with. I have been in this mode, but am coming out of that season thankfully.

    4) I see the differences in the Old and New Testament most in these passages, in Isaiah there is God asking for turning (repentance) and Him waiting to be gracious. In the James and 1Peter the resisting is of the Devil and submission to God is the key as well.

    5) I think The Lord has said “settle down” to me so many times in my life I couldn’t count them! Right now I am not hearing it as much as I have in the past, but I’m sure it will be here again.

    6) God has been showing me a lot of things lately about my need to control or have things the way I want them to turn out, and not asking God for His will to be done. I am at a point of changes in my life and I want to know what is coming next, which is not possible of course. I have been in a place of desperation before and I know to Trust and Obey, but it isn’t always as easy to do as say.

    Thanks so much Beth for all that you do to teach and encourage us to seek God more!
    Lisa

    • 403.1

      Lisa, Thank you for sharing your heart in this with us. I enjoyed reading about how you’ve grown in your journey with God. The most beneficial thing I’ve read from you today is “I am at a point of changes in my life and I want to know what is coming next, which is not possible of course. I have been in a place of desperation before and I know to Trust and Obey, but it isn’t always as easy to do as say.” I so concur with what you share. I’ve been in a season of change, and staying the course can be hard when I am not seeing the results I desire. But, God is ever faithful. Thank you for sharing this. BLessings, M

  4. 404
    Saundra from Katy says:

    Isaiah 30:15 English Standard Version (ESV)
    Isaiah 30:15 New International Version (NIV)
    Isaiah 30:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
    15 For thus the Lord [a]God, the Holy One of Israel, has said,
    “In [b]repentance and rest you will be saved,
    In quietness and trust is your strength.”

    Found connections here with my this week’s study of Job.

  5. 405
    Michelle says:

    1. NASB, NIV and The Message

    Isaiah 30:15-18
    The Message (MSG)
    God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right
    15-17 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
    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 you—
    a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
    a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18 But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
    He’s 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.

    2. Threat – a statement saying you will be harmed if you do not do what someone wants you to do; someone or something that could cause trouble, harm, etc. — usually singular; the possibility that something bad or harmful could happen [count] — usually singular
    I looked up threat in a couple of dictionaries and this one seemed to resonate with me. I think because of the thought that I could be harmed if I didn’t do what someone wanted me to do. I think I take my freedom for granted. Evil is so prevalent in this world and with all the random shootings that have happened recently, no place is safe. However, I do not live my life in fear because my Savior encompasses me with a peace that passes all understanding.
    3. Fleeing for me is suppression or withdrawal. I tend to escape to myself. Not a pretty picture when I think about it and most definitely not healthy. Praise God I am not currently in a “fleeing” state.
    4. Such an awesome reminder that God has the last word! Oh, how many times I have tried to do things on my own, or enter into a hard time without seeking His counsel. Silly me! I guess that would be that “napping” time where I opened the door for the devil to enter and I sometimes even cleaned the house expecting his visit. I love that I have to scream to get the devil out, but God will hear a soft whisper from me and immediately be with me. All the more assurance for me that if I feel that God is not close, it is not because He moved.
    5. Settle down and rest. Yes, I need to hear those words. The busyness of life drowns and all God has asked is that I lay on my back and float.
    6. As I enter into this changing season of caring for aging parents (we are empty nesters), I find great peace in Him that this season will not last forever. My strength to endure will come from settling down in Him. Thanks for the homework assignment and the time to reflect and meditate on verses that I may have never put together before.

  6. 406
    Megan M. says:

    1. The ESV, The Message, and NIV….
    The NIV spoke to me most blatantly.
    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; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

    2.Threat: 1: An expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage 2: one that threatens 3: an indication of something impending .
    I’m not certain that I feel “threatened”. I’ve been feeling out of sorts and out of control, despite good things happening in my life. Despite being immensely blessed by God, I think I’ve missed/ignored that “in repentance and rest is my salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” ….Blessings have come from my husband’s job, but these also mean he is working, a lot. We also left our old church and have been attending a new church—and have yet to make many close acquaintances. I work from home, which is a huge blessing, but all of those factors have had me feeling like my sense of community is being “threatened”….

    3.I tend to flee by zoning out. Instead of facing how I felt, I’ve spent a lot of time moping and doing a lot of nothing…telling myself I just need some time to chill. The phrase “in quietness and trust” is striking me so funny…It’s in these quiet times I should focus on my trusting God. Not complaining about them…!

    4.”‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift!…. till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill”……
    1 Peter 5:8 …”your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour…” / “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…”. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ……

    The enemy is on the prowl, fleeing will only result in the enemy pursuing you just as fast. But, if we submit ourselves to God…we can resist the devil and he will flee us.

    5.“Settling down” isn’t the phrase I’d use for my current state (I think I might be too settled if you know what I mean…), however!!! I do need to settle into complete dependence on God, or else I’ll stay in my current fleeing state, zoning out and allowing the devil to devour me!

    6.I’ve been feeling like I need to be more alert, as 1 Peter 5:8 says… And as I was doing this assignment, I was already noting how I’ve been “fleeing” by zoning out…but then reading the passages from 1 Peter and James really hit me hard. It’s not just a matter of trying to trust myself in my circumstances and needing to completely depend on God—-it’s a matter of spiritual warfare! Satan has been using the silliest of things to get me in a depressed mood, so my defenses are down. That is not acceptable. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…”AND… “Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ”

    Even if no one else did this assignment, it wasn’t wasted as it was sure something I needed to do. I’ve been more diligent with my Bible study and prayer life, but, I need to be more aware of the threat of Satan….and submit fully to God so I can resist the devil and his attempts to get me down. It’s all about God’s glory…and we aren’t giving God the glory when we let Satan devour us!

    Hope everyone had a superb weekend….this was definitely needed and fun!

  7. 407
    Catherine says:

    1. NIV
    NKJV
    New Living Translation (NLT):
    15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only 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, ‘No, 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!
    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. Threat (noun) 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 probable trouble. Origin: before 900; (noun) Middle English threte, Old English thrēat pressure, oppression; cognate with Old Norse thraut hardship, bitter end.

    I feel very threatened as I grow old. Health and physical security, which I took for granted (foolishly) when I was a girl, feels very precarious now. Financial security in particular is difficult. I’m struggling today, as a matter of fact, with the issue of tithing. Also, there are family issues that are terribly difficult and heartbreaking right now. So far, old age is not a peaceful or restful season of life for me.

    3. To “flee” something is to run away from something. I have run from God so many times. It’s painful to think about. I confess that when I am living close to my Lord, it frightens me. I look at it from the “outside” and grow afraid of looking to others as if I am mentally unstable. I have a vulnerability there – chronic depression – and worry that I’m becoming unable to tell truth from fantasy. Yet at my heart’s core, I know the Truth, and I want to live it out in my life. So back and forth I go. I wish I had a little more courage and a little less imagination.

    4. 1 Peter tells us not to flee but to “Stay alert!” against the wiles of the Enemy (like, for example, the fear of being mentally unstable) and ends with the lovely promise, “… [God] will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” No more fleeing; God Himself will put ME on a firm foundation. Sign me up! And James gives us the most wonderful of promises: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”

    5. Oddly, I have more need to “perk up” than “settle down.” I spend a lot of time (a LOT of time) in an almost vegetative state – puttering around the house, watching mindless television. I am “fleeing” to isolation and loneliness, I realize. And that’s a choice. So I need to unsettle myself a bit physically, while becoming more faithful to – more settled in – the Word and my own walk with the Lord.

    6.Isaiah 30:18 (NLT) says, “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.” That image speaks so powerfully to me. The LORD of the covenant and our hope waits patiently for me to come to him (again, again, again) SO he can show love and compassion. And I come (again, again, again).

  8. 408
    Lynn, Pittsburgh PA says:

    1. 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!
    17A 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;
    he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! NIV

    the Almighty LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: You can be saved by returning to me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me. But you don’t want that.
    The LORD is waiting to be kind to you. He rises to have compassion on you. The LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him. GWT

    the LORD GOD,n the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “In repentance and rest you will be saved;
    in staying calm and trusting will be your strength.
    But you refused.
    “Nevertheless, the LORD will wait
    so he can be gracious to you;
    and thus he will rise up to show you mercy.
    For the LORD is a God of justice.
    How blessed are all those who wait for him.” ISV

    2. threat – An indication of something impending.
    In four months I will lose a job that I love. I went back to work after 13 years of being home with my kids. The Lord opened the door for me to work in my children’s school as a teacher’s aide, that was 4 years ago. I work mainly with kids who have autism and I absolutely love it. Unfortunately our school district needs to make cuts and my job is one of them. I believe no one but our Loving Lord can close this door, and if He does, then there is a greater reason than saving the district a few dollars. I am depending on Him for guidance and looking forward to His plan for my future (one filled with His awesome grace). – the other side to that – I really don’t want to lose my job. First, I love it and love those kids. Second, my family needs the income. Third, I’m scared I won’t be able to find another job.

    3. How do I flee? I flee by ignoring, avoiding and being annoyed by my husbands love and kind words. I usually can find a way to blame him for everything. This time I blame him for not having an income that covers all of our needs. – so very wrong, but that’s what I do. I sulk and feel sorry for myself and this is exactly what satan wants me to do, blame the love of my life and feel sorry for myself.

    4. 1 Pet.5:8-10 and James 4:7 Tells me exactly what God has for me. Unlimited grace and mercy. Satan wants to steal the assurance I have that God has my back. That the Lord Jesus is already in my future. Satan wants me to fret and worry and be anxious about my future. But Praise God! I do not have to. I was born for a greater purpose than doubt. I was born to glorify Him. As I trust and wait upon my Heavenly Father for my every need and believe He is my strong tower, then the loss of a job can do nothing but make my glorify Him more. “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today…” Exodus 14:13

    5. Settle down. “Be still and know I AM God.”

    6. He is in control of my destiny “For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you and future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11 NAS

  9. 409
    Cindy says:

    LPM Homework 1/25/13 Cindy Mosinee
    1 GNB and NIV my favorite NLT
    Isaiah 30:15-18 This is what the sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says; Only 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, “No 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! 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 on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop. So the Lord must wait for you to come back 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. One that threatens. An indication of something impending.
    Forty years ago I suffered abuse at the hands of an evil neighbor; the memories started surfacing 11/2010 after I was shown his obituary. Up until that time I had absolutely zero memory of the abuse, my childhood was “good.” The rug was pulled out from under my feet starting with the very first nightmare and continues today. There have been times when I think “I’ve” gotten a handle on it, meaning I’m in control, what does God do… He pulls the rug out from under my feet. Now I’m not talking pride in my abilities, there’s been plenty of that. I’m talking about what I look at as basic childhood abuse that progressed to satanic ritualistic abuse. Even though he’s dead I feel he’s still a threat. He would tell me not to make noise, cry and don’t you dare show fear!!!! When he didn’t get those responses he would have countless ways to get me to react, all the while with an evil smile I became all too familiar with.
    3 Fleeing for me is not wanting to face something which I know is going to be painful or so big that in my eyes I’ll never be able to do it. Yes I’ve been in the fleeing mode however I will be making a trip with a friend to the places where the abuse happened. After arguing with God for quite awhile He has (Psalm 139:5) hemmed me in behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. In other words He has gently but firmly backed me into a corner, in order for any forward movement to take place I have to go back.
    4 Compare: Each set of verses wants us to know we have a very real enemy; we each have a choice to remain under God’s hand of protection or embrace what “appears” easier. When we turn away we need to turn back, repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
    Contrast: James tells me to submit and the enemy will flee. First Peter urges caution and faith in Jesus, we are all tested, and He will deliver us. This testing will make us aware that only in Christ am I strong. Isaiah speaks of the people making a choice to turn away from God thinking it’s the easier way, but finding the cold reality that life without God’s protection leaves them standing alone and vulnerable. It’s only when they turn back that God can show them once again His love, faithfulness and compassion.
    5 Settle down, wow, I need to hear that every day; honestly I need to hear it throughout each day. It’s easy for me to get ahead of God and not even realize it until I’m in over my head or it may take days to find out I’ve been walking alone. The hardest thing for me to do is to wait. I’m glad God is so patient, He allows me to make my own choices, when they aren’t His will He waits for me to see the error of my ways. If I’d only waited for Him in the first place, so it’s back on my knees in repentance asking for forgiveness.
    6 I’ve been working through Beth’s study A Women’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place for several weeks and I’ve learned how much I’m like the Israel people. God is always faithful. I’ve been walking through a difficult season for what feels like forever, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve battled with God or went ahead of Him. I desire to do His will I really do, yet time and time again I fight with Him and scream “where are You?” I wake up in such fear from my dreams and wonder where is Your protection? If You loved me You could make it all stop or at least make it easier. I don’t know God’s plan for my life. I do know He loves me and only wants what’s best for His daughter. I know that right now and when I’m here I pray God allows me to remember it when I’m walking through the darkness that comes with this trial. 1st Peter tells me we are all tested, in order to grow in my faith I will face hard things, but in the facing of it I’ll learn endurance and perseverance. He will deliver me. Each step I take brings me closer to the end of this season. Some days I walk confidently other days I walk in defeat, God wants me to walk in His power/strength not my own; His power is made perfect in my weakness. Thank YOU LORD for Your faithfulness even when I’m faithless.

  10. 410
    Betty M says:

    1. CEV, MSG, CEB, ERV – chose Easy to Read version
    15 The Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says, “If you come back to me you will be saved. Only by remaining calm and trusting in me can you be strong.”
    But you don’t want to do that. 16 You say, “No, we need fast horses for battle.” That is true—you will need fast horses, but only to run away because your enemy will be faster than your horses. 17 One enemy soldier will make threats, and a thousand of your men will run away. And when five of them make threats, all of you will run away. The only thing that will be left of your army will be a flagpole on a hill.
    18 So the LORD is waiting to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The LORD is the God who does the right thing, so he will bless everyone who waits for his help.
    2. Merriam-Webster definition # 3 an indication of something impending Is my heart or health threatening to be worse?
    3. Fleeing – avoidance, leaving. I’ve been going to a new church (two full months there) instead of the church I have belonged to for 30+ years. I left the older church when I noticed the cliqueish behavior of the leaders. At the new church, I’m growing more spiritually.
    4. Yes, always – we always need to settle down and hold fast on our faith
    5. This morning’s sermon – awesome. He said, “Don’t put God first in your life. Make God the center of every part of your life — faith, family, finances, field of influence.” God is at the center — no matter how we feel threatened by circumstances around and in us.

  11. 411
    Lindsey says:

    1: NKJV, NLT, ESV – For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”; therefore you shall flee away; and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. 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. 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. (Isaiah 30:15-18 ESV)

    2: Threat: noun 
    1 : an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
    2 : one that threatens
    3 : an indication of something impending
    Lately I feel like satan is trying to slip into my marriage…

    3: When I flee, I tend to withdraw and keep myself separated from the person/situation that I’m fleeing from. Essentially, I cut off entirely from it/them. If that’s not possible, I bottle everything up instead.

    4: James 4:7 shows us that when we submit to God and resist the devil, it is the devil who will flee from us. Isaiah 30:15-18 shows us that when we resist God, we submit to the adversary, flee, and are eventually defeated. I Peter 5:8-10 shows us how we are to resist the devil, cling to our God and our faith, and stand firm in order to be victorious in our Lord.

    5: I did need to hear it. It reminded me of a few things: that He is in control, if only I will heed his warning to surrender. That if I do indeed surrender to him, he’ll fill any potential foothold that the devil could cling to. And finally that he has already equipped me with the tools to turn around this particular situation in a way that is pleasing to Him. 

    6: Through this, God showed me what had been weighing on me lately and how to go about righting the wrongs I’ve committed, to ask for forgiveness, but mostly to get to the bottom on my actions/attitudes and sort it out through Him because I have not been an example of His love, mercy, grace, or forgiveness…

  12. 412
    Rachelle says:

    1. RSV,NKJ & NLT, 15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy one of Isreal, says: “Only 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, “No 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! 17One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee.You will be left like a lonely flagpoles 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. Threat :a statement of intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not. Reading this definition makes my heart literally beat faster. Friday I was in a situation at my job with a person in which I felt threatened. I ended it by telling the person that I did not need to be bullied and asked them nicely, but firmly, to leave. I have never in all my life been in a situation such as this. 3. In past situations fleeing might be me going on a long drive, running or not eating( I stress meal-skip, rather than binge). This time I headed straight to prayer, but I do have a feeling of internal stress. 4. In these passages the common theme is that we detriment to God in humility. I would say repentance and He will be faithful to defend and love us.
    5. Yes,I need to hear settle down or “be still”! I feel God really directing me to trust Him. God continues to remind me of his faithfulness. However I feel there is a powerful spiritual battle going on in my life and in our nation and world.
    6.Thank you for this! I am reminded that fighting battles aren’t up to me.I simply must humble myself before Almighty God and He will care for me. In Him I will always find rest.

    4.

  13. 413
    Terry Oliver says:

    1. NIV Isaiah 30:15-18

    15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

    “In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.
    16 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!
    17 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.”

    18 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!

    NLV and KJV

    2. Webster – threat: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage. I feel threatened by the attitude of our nation. People elected this administration, so I am concerned about the breakdown of morality, the view on how to handle our resources, the socialistic attitude, and the overall liberal thinking by the majority of voting people in our country. I am afraid the U.S. will reap
    the consequences of ungodliness in the days of my children and grandchildren.
    3. When I “flee” from God, I ignore Him and try to handle life through fret and worry – no rest, no quietness, loss of hope. I am running to God at this time in my life. I want to be counted in the “Blessed are those who’s “Hope” is in the Lord or who “Wait” on the Lord.” He is gracious with me and has risen to save me. I don’t want to disappoint Him by fleeing anymore.
    4. Is. 30:15-18 ““Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.” James 4:7 says to “humble ourselves” which is the act described in Is. And, 1 Pet. says to “Be alert and of sober mind.”, which describes the posture of resting. Fleeing is panic, running, fearful. Fleeing is what the devil does. Separation from God. Instead He wants us to “resist, stand firm, and have faith” as stated in the verses in 1 Peter and James and promises to give us the strength to that (Is.) He doesn’t want us to try to get help in places other than Him. The “God of all Grace” (1 Peter) who is “faithful” (1 Peter) and “waiting” (Is. 30) for us to return to Him will make us “strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter) and those who learn to wait on Him will be blessed in his sight (Is. 30) and the enemy waiting to devour us (1 Peter) will flee (James), not us – we will be resting in the strength of “quietness and confidence” (Is) being showered with His “love and compassion” (Is)
    5. YES!!! Psalm 46:10 in NIV says to the be still and know that He is God and He will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. The message version of that verse reminds me to take a “long, loving look at my “High God” who is above politics and everything. In answer #2, I answered that my “threat” is the result of our politics on this earth. I guess that answers that!!
    6. The picture of God waiting and longing for me to return to Him, his willingness to “rise up” and receive me touches my heart. I realize that when I “flee” and I am no different than Satan who does exactly that. I am renewed in my gratitude for the peaceful place of “quietness and rest” He offers me. In suffering, I have the opportunity to receive “love and compassion” verses the turmoil I can experience on my own. And, my God who longs to hold me up is Sovereign and Just. Why would I want to be any other place?

  14. 414
    Heidi says:

    Dearest Miss Beth,
         Is it too late to participate in this homework assignment? It’s Sunday evening and I’ve just now settled down long enough to read my emails, including the one from LPM.  I usually almost always just pick LPM email in my iPad inbox but it goes to show how hard it’s been to just “settle down.” 
         Okay, here goes the treasure hunt:

    1.)
    HCSB (threat)
    KJV (rebuke)
    ESV (threat)
    NIV (threat)
    “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.”

    2.)
    1 : an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
    2 : one that threatens
    3 : an indication of something impending
    Origin: Middle English thret coercion, threat, from Old English thrēat coercion; akin to Middle High German drōz annoyance, Latin trudere to push, thrust.
    First use: before 12th century
    Synonyms: hazard, imminence, menace, peril, pitfall, risk, danger, trouble

    Hmmm, how I feel most threatened this season, is in myself.  My impulsiveness, constant need for movement into the next thing out of anxiety.

    3.)
    How fleeing looks like in my life. . .hmmm, I dunno. Maybe, in not waiting on the Lord. I seek him, but quick to saddle up and go.  A survival skill from childhood abuse and torture, design a way to reach a better moment than than the one threatened perhaps.  What am I fleeing from now?  My anger, healing through trauma. Scared to death. Just rather run and dance than to cry and and get angry.

    4.) 
    Ja 4:7 Resist and submit and the Lord will come near. . .
    Is 30:15/17 Rest and wait in quietness and your confidence will come. . .

    Oh, Sovereign Lord, when will I enter
    to the place of surrender
    where you become the center
    of all you’ll have me remember 

    I discern that I’m being warned to stop saddlin up on my horse and to rest on his wings. 

    Thank you Beth for this gift to settle down, thank you, thank you, love  Heidi 

    Excerpt From: Zondervan. “NIV Study Bible (Red Letter Edition).” Zondervan, 2010-08-12. iBooks. 
    This material may be protected by copyright.

    Check out this book on the iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=585358969

  15. 415
    Terri Edwards says:

    We love him because he FIRST loved us.
    I John 4:19 (AMP, KJV)

  16. 416
    Dawn Stevens says:

    Thank you LPM – Beth and staff continue to teach and help us grow in our understanding and faith.
    Thank you- Dawn

  17. 417
    Kaitlyn says:

    (I like these exercises, thanks!)

    1. NIV, ESV, ERV

    Isaiah 30:15-18
    Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
    15 The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says, “If you come back to me you will be saved. Only by remaining calm and trusting in me can you be strong.”

    But you don’t want to do that. 16 You say, “No, we need fast horses for battle.” That is true—you will need fast horses, but only to run away because your enemy will be faster than your horses. 17 One enemy soldier will make threats, and a thousand of your men will run away. And when five of them make threats, all of you will run away. The only thing that will be left of your army will be a flagpole on a hill.

    God Will Help His People

    18 So the Lord is waiting to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The Lord is the God who does the right thing, so he will bless everyone who waits for his help.

    2. Threat: an indication or warning of probable trouble.

    I feel threatened that I am not living up to the woman and wife I expected myself to be. I don’t like how I’ve grown more shy and less energetic over the past several years. I shy away from being in community with others when I used to flourish in it.

    3. I “flee” by not committing to regularly attending large group events, even bible studies and mommy/child playgroups that are too large. I also don’t share my thoughts or experiences in large groups because I turn bright red when unwanted attention is on me.

    4. The Isaiah verse tells me that I will find strength and salvation by returning to God and remaining calm. When I try to do otherwise, I’ll end up responding poorly to enemy threats. But God will continue to show me grace. He’ll rise up and comfort me as I wait for his help. The verse in 1 Peter reminds me to not be a walking target for the devil’s attacks. The verse in James tells me that if I give myself (and my fears) to God then he’ll enable me to to resist the devil. When I sand up to the devil, he will flee from me.

    5. The phrase “settle down” does speak to me, because I get so worked up inside when I’m acting shy and uncomfortable. I need to settle down and receive my confidence from the Lord.

    6. I think God wants me to like myself and my personality – to view myself the way he does. To not look to my right or to my left and compare my personality to others’. What God has for me, he has for me. What does it matter what he has for others. What I know is this: For me, he has Christ. That will be enough.

  18. 418
    Tara says:

    The NLT and HCSB resonated most with me. I’m not posting it according to the instructions because I’m still taking it in and don’t think I can answer the questions just yet, but I am going to pray about it. I really like doing this, Beth!

  19. 419
    Debbie says:

    1. Isaiah 30:15-18
    NKJV; NLT; The Message
    15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
 the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only 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, ‘No, 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!
    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
    NLT

    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: He confessed under the threat of imprisonment.
    an indication or warning of probable trouble: The threat of a storm was in the air.
    a person or thing that threatens.

    This word has such a wide variety of meanings from a threat on your life to someone doing something that makes you feel insecure. For me it would be the later, I hear of a new thing, or a new decision and I feel my position is threatened. Which probably comes from the thought that I don’t feel like I’ve got a clear God direction from my life, so anything that shakes where I am at right now, is a threat.

    3. Fleeing – I am not usually one to flee, I stick around until something is sorted. However in the process of sticking around my mind and emotions often quit but I do not physically quit. Does that make sense? Fleeing to me is being unstable in the situation.

    4. Comparing the 3 bible verses, Peter tells us that it’s the devil who is the threat, James tells me to resist the devil, in other words resist the threat. However if I do miss the boat, if I do get it wrong…Isaiah tells me in v 18 that God is waiting to show his grace to me.

    5. No

    6. Don’t try to do it on your own.

  20. 420
    Marla - Highlands Ranch, CO says:

    1. NIV, MSG, ESV – three translations I read.
    Isaiah 30:15-18 The Message (MSG)
    15-17 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
    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 you—
    a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
    a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18 But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
    He’s 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.
    2. threat: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
    I do not feel threat currently in my life in any way so it doesn’t feel like it relates or pertains to me and the word “threat” does not bring up any familiar feelings.
    3. “Fleeing” to me usually means I am passing the blame onto someone or something else and not facing an issue or taking my own responsibility in the issue. When I “flee” I look outwardly instead of inwardly AND do not ask for God or trust in Him. I do not currently feel that I am in a fleeing mode.
    4. I think both the 1Peter text and the James text are similar to the Isaiah text in that they speak of us having patience and trust in God’s promises and plans for us. They all speak of submitting solely to the Lord, that His way is the only way. I also think they urge us to be prepared, to “stick it out” (through the suffering) and remind us that God is waiting on the other side for us.
    5. The times that I need to hear “settle down” pertain to my need for patience…patience with myself, my children, my career, and all the things I want to do and that I want “to happen.”
    6. The texts and their message were much welcomed for me and are one that I have been meditating on this week in fact. God is really trying to “hammer this message home” to me so thank you for this homework. It gave me three more verses to support and deepen my understanding of needing to keep on my “armor,” to be patient, and to KNOW God has anointed every day, week, month, year etc. for ME and that I need not worry or “force” or “do it myself!” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

  21. 421
    Pat says:

    Wow! Did I need this right now! God is so good! All the time!
    1) The Message, NIV 84,
    “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ” In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”; therefore you shall flee away; and, We will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. 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. 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.” ESV
    2) Threat: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage; one who threatens; an indication of something impending (Merriam Webster on-line)
    3)Fleeing to me can look several different ways, depending on the threat I’m facing. Avoidance, blaming, defensiveness, withdrawl, passive-agressivenness are all techniques that I use to flee. Sometimes I sleep. Sometimes I go for a car ride. And, sometimes I flee to my Bible 🙂
    4) I think all of the Scripture passages point us to trusting in the LORD alone, and not on our own plans or what we think is safe. We need to submit to the LORD and He will take care of us.
    5) I need to hear “settle down” in a big way right now. I have been very upset the last week, due to situations at work, and at home, and elsewhere. It seems there is trouble everywhere–and no place is a refuge right now for me. Hmmmm–seems like the only refuge is the LORD. I’m a slow learner!
    6) God is saying I should trust Him. Complete dependence on Him. Not run away from my problems, but completely rely on Him to get me through them safely.

    Thanks, Beth, for this assignment. It was defintely the LORD speaking to me through His Word!

  22. 422
    Darnell Williams says:

    Amplified and New Living Translation &

    American Standard Version (ASV)
    15 For thus said the Lord Jehovah, 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 threat of one; at the threat of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.

    18 And therefore will Jehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for him.

    Threat: Noun
    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”
    A menace of bodily harm, such as may restrain a person’s freedom of action.

    I am threatened by the ticking clock right now, but if God is for me, who can be against me?

    Fleeing for me right now is avoiding and being angry and hurt by the injustice I feel from my husband.

    I believe The Lord is telling me to stay close to Him, continue to do the right thing and pray about and trust that He will work in my situation in His perfect timing. The devil and his schemes are what I need to stay away from! God is also impressing on my heart that He loves me! God is good!!

  23. 423
    Carolyn says:

    1. Isaiah 30:15-18 (NIV, MSG, NLT)
    NLT
    15 This is what the Sovereign LORD,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “Only 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, ‘No, 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!
    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. Threat
    -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.
    -an indication or warning of probable trouble: The threat of a storm was in the air.
    -a person or thing that threatens.

    My own fear threatens me more than anything. Fear of what will happen to me and to my family if I try and fear of what will happen if I don’t. Most of all I feel that my health threatens who I am and what I am able to do.

    3. I am good at fleeing, at running, hiding and checking out. It is so much easier than putting myself out there. I am not currently in fleeing mode but it creeps up on me on a regular basis and I really have to be intentional and be in prayer about not running away when things get tough.

    4. In Isaiah, he’s talking about us wanting to run and God’s saying we’ll only find rest if we put our full trust in Him. In 1 Peter we’re told to pay attention and resist the devil and even though we suffer, God will restore us and make us strong. James tells us that when we submit to God, the devil will flee from us. So if we rest in and submit to God, instead of us feeling the need to flee, the devil will be the one who has to flee.

    5. Do I need to hear the words “settle down”? Yes, I can easily become emotional and overcome with frustration and feelings of inadequacy. This has a way of affecting the other things that are going on in my life.

    6. Personal insight: God’s got my back. I need only submit myself to Him. When my days are long, busy and full of pain and I let myself become overwhelmed, I need to stop and turn to the one who knows exactly what I need. God is telling me to press into Him, to persevere and trust that He’s got the details covered. I don’t need to double check His work. He is certainly more organized than me.

  24. 424
    D says:

    1) I read Isaiah 30:15-18 in

    New Living Translation (NLT), English Standard Version (ESV) and….
    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)Something personal, but I relate most to this phrase of the definition:
    “indication of something impending”

    3) Fleeing for me looks like indulging in things I shouldn’t (food, materialism, selfish ambition, prideful talking and thinking) in an attempt to fill the void I have in me.
    4)
    5) yes, I need to settle!
    6) What I am most hearing is this:
    “10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.”
    I can be confident in knowing that the trials I am going through now are completing me and making me what I ought to be! I need to rely more on Him, wait on Him in this time rather than indulge in “my own ways” to bring myself comfort. I can trust God knows my entire situation and that He will be with me through it all. He waits for me to bring my troubles to Him and to depend fully on Him to see me through.

  25. 425
    Dawn says:

    1. I read The Message, New Century Version and New Living Translation.

    Isaiah 30:15-18
    New Living Translation (NLT)
    15 
    This is what the Sovereign Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only 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, ‘No, 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!
    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.”
    Blessings for the Lord’s 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: 2 a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger: hurricane damage poses a major threat to many coastal communities.
    [ in sing. ] the possibility of trouble, danger, or ruin: the company faces the threat of bankruptcy | thousands of railroad jobs came under threat .

    My [almost] 19-year old son is in a serious, unequally-yoked relationship with an 18-year old. It’s like a bad drug has taken over and she is pulling him down and away from all he knows is right, lovely, pure and good. I feel threatened because there is such negative potential and possibility on several levels. He is a good kid and I know he knows the Truth, but in this season the sense of danger is very real and very great.

    I flee intense fear by cleaning frantically, cooking, gardening, or walking. I want to flee after my child, but I am refraining. I am fleeing after him in my heart.

    I Peter encourages us that God is there, faithful and true. James encourages us to humble ourselves as verse 18 of Isaiah shows God waiting for me to come to Him. The verses are different lengths, but the bottom line message is clear.
    YES! My insides recently feel like a tangled ball of ambivalence related to raising this precious son… I often hear God saying, “I’ve got this…settle down.” And my husband and I frequently tell each other this!

    6. Thank you for this exercise! I totally feel God encouraging me to rest in Him, trust Him, to know He’s in this battle and He’s the one who will be victorious. He has a plan for my son, and this girl, and His Will will prevail. I want to rest in that promise completely!

  26. 426
    Claudia Pendergrass says:

    1) I read NLT, MSG, NIV

    NLT Isa 30:15-18
    15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “Only 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, ‘No, 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!
    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) Definition of “threat”
    threat |θret|
    noun
    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 : members of her family have received death threats.
    • Law a menace of bodily harm, such as may restrain a person’s freedom of action.
    2 a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger : hurricane damage poses a major threat to many coastal communities.
    • [in sing. ] the possibility of trouble, danger, or ruin : the company faces the threat of bankruptcy | thousands of railroad jobs came under threat.
    ORIGIN Old English thrēat [oppression,] of Germanic origin; related to Dutch verdrieten ‘grieve,’ German verdriessen ‘irritate.’

    The part that hit me about “threat” was that it is intentional. The idea that someone would intentionally cause pain, injury, or damage is scary. The other part that got me was that it is retribution for something done or NOT done—that makes it even worse to think it is undeserved.

    I feel most threatened right now by my fears of resuming intimacy with my spouse. Six years ago he confessed to being a cocaine addict and having affairs. We’ve been married almost 29 years and are both committed to working through this with counseling and support groups, but I feel threatened by the thought of intimacy even though my husband is not behaving in a threatening manner—it’s just my fears.

    3) “Fleeing” looks like removing myself from a situation or person. I have often been in flee mode, although right now I am attempting to remain in communication despite my fears. I give myself permission to flee if my husband loses his temper. When that happens I leave and go off by myself.

    4)
    NLT 1Pet 5:8-10
    8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
    10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

    NLT James 4:7
    7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

    In the 1Peter and James passages we are told to resist the devil, and that he will flee from us. We are to humble ourselves before God and be strong in our faith.

    The Isaiah passage says we will only be saved by returning to God and resting in him. In quietness and confidence is our strength, but we would have none of it. Later, we are the ones fleeing from our enemies. God wants to show his compassion and love to us, but he is waiting for us to return.

    5) I need to hear the words “settle down” because my first choice is always to fix things myself or run if I can’t. A while back when I was greatly discouraged and confused, I prayed a long while seeking comfort and direction. I prayed to God, and instantly the verse, “Be still and know that I am God” came to mind. That wasn’t the answer I wanted. I prayed to Jesus and (Yup) I got the same verse in my head. A slow learner, I also called out to the Holy Spirit and got the “Be still” verse yet a third time. Resting in God and being patient is hard!

    6) It amazes me that God tells us to stand firm even though the Devil is prowling around us like a roaring lion! Even reading that terrifies me, yet I trust that God loves me and wouldn’t ask me to do something unless it were possible with his help. Perhaps the being humble before God is the very thing that allows us to be strong in our faith. Only by resting in God will we be saved.

  27. 427
    Tensie says:

    1. NKJV, HCSB, NIV –
    Isa 30:15 – This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
    Isa 30:16 NIV – 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!
    Isa 30:17 NIV – 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.”
    Isa 30:18 NIV – Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

    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.
    I am threatened by illness. I have had walking pneumonia for 2 weeks. Our finances are very difficult as well.
    3. Fleeing – I want to hide out from an overwhelming responsibilities, but rarely do
    4. I am unable to compare and contrast. I guess this means I am still sick.
    5. I have been feeling like I would never get well. That I would never be able to have enough lung capacity to sing or talk again. This reminder to settle down in complete dependence on God is needed greatly at this time in my life.

  28. 428
    Terry says:

    1a) MSG, NIV, HCSB

    1b) Isaiah 30:10-22, The Message (MSG), HCSB
    God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right
    15-17 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
    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 you—
    a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
    a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18 But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
    He’s 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.

    2a) Threat (Dictionary.com):
    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: The threat of a storm was in the air.

    2b)I feel very threatened by Iran, North Korea, extreme Islamic terrorists; specifically how they could harm my loved ones (especially the grandchildren since they are young). Closer to home, I feel threatened by financial obligations and my daughter’s chronic illness which keeps her homebound (she is 25 yrs old).

    3a) I tend to flee by overeating (to comfort me) or watching television (to distract me). Third way is to stay up late so I fall asleep quickly at night and then I don’t have to think.

    3b) Yes, I am in a fleeing mode right now

    4) First, let me say THANK YOU for posting the MSG version of the Isaiah verse. I REALLY needed to “hear it.” My daughter has several chronic auto-immune illnesses that keep her homebound and therefore is so depressed that she is suicidal. I sleep with her every night in case the “urge” becomes too great (she asks me to do this. I have posted the verse on the bathroom mirror for both of us!)

    Secondly, Isaiah tells us to turn back to God and settle down in complete dependence to Him.
    1 Peter: and James warn us to be aware of Satan, flee from him, and God will get you “back on your feet.” (MSG)

    5a) Yes, yes, yes girlfriend! I LITERALLY did an LOL when I read the MSG version 

    5b) Worry, worry, worry (see question 2b)

    6) I have been a Christian for a long, long time (since 6 yrs old and I’m 53 currently) but I really needed to have this reminder. It was especially helpful to read the verses in a different version (I usually read NIV), particularly The Message.

    I believe the Lord is telling me to keep my eyes fixed on Him alone, not my circumstances or my loved ones’ circumstances, nor on what evil groups could do to our country or to my loved ones, to flee Satan (capture every thought captive), and to be cognizant that my efforts to save myself are silly!

  29. 429
    Rebecca says:

    NIV, ALMP and the NLT —This is what the Sovereign Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “Only 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.
    16You said, ‘No, 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!
    17One 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.”
    Blessings for the Lord’s People
    18So 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)
    Treats – A statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not
    In this season in my life I feel treats of who am I. Who have I became is not the plan I had. And I know in my heart that it is not the plan that God has. Fleeing to me tonight was throwing Breaking Free workbook across the room and crying like a child. It was just to much.
    HE is waiting for me to come to him with it all! the choice is mine and as easy as that sounds it is not for me

  30. 430
    Karen Hayes says:

    1) NIV / Holman /The Message
    The Message, Isaiah 30:15-18
    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
    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 you—
    a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
    a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18 But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
    He’s 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.
    2. Threat
    Definition from Encarta Dictionary via Word
    1. Declaration of intent to cause harm
    2. Sign of something bad
    3. Somebody or something likely to cause harm
    Definition from Dictionary.com
    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
    Funny how both definitions stirred up the flow of the whirlpool swirling in the pit of my stomach. The second one bringing much more strength to the currents rolling beneath my sea of fear I’ve found myself floating around on the last few years. My husband has been off of work for almost three years now. He was injured in March 2010; had major neck surgery involving three levels of discs in Jan. 2011; found out he has a rare blood disease; tried to return to work this Fall, but after six weeks, was back home in pain again. His company gave him ninety days to find a job within the company. Well, all but nine of those days are now exhausted. Fear keeps throwing questions at me: What will we do without health insurance with all of my husband’s health issues? What about his pension? What about that stable income that comes with working for a nationwide telecommunications company for almost twenty years? What’s going to happen to all of plans we made with early retirement? How will I handle all these changes? I don’t like daily riding the crashing waves of thunderous white rapids – give me back the days of basking in the sun as I drift along that lazy river!
    That second definition got my blood boiling with its “retaliation for” and “conditionally upon”. Whoa, hold on a minute here! My husband didn’t ask to be injured. He didn’t ask to only have 80% mobility in his arms and shoulders. He didn’t willingly give up the notion of ever being able to lift his grandkids high in the air like an airplane or throw a football again or do anything that involves raising his arms above his head. I certainly didn’t ask to see my husband in pain and vomiting over migraines that are caused by the intense pain left behind, even after one of the most skilled orthopedic surgeons in the nation performed the best surgery a human can possibly do to correct it. So, he did not purposely do anything to be “retaliated for”.
    3. Fleeing. Well, every time I’m studying the Word, reading through a Bible study or listening to Christian radio, the same verse is continually placed before me, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your path.” Although I have it memorized and can extract it from the filing drawers of my mind, I can’t seem to act upon it. I flee to my dark world of worry. I picture myself playing the title role in some futuristic story of poor ole desolate me. Instead of paying attention to what God may be doing, I find myself piling on the pity and worrying all the time.
    4. Satan is trying to attack me in my security. I had security in my husband’s job. Satan can attack that, but he can’t harm God’s protection and provision for me and my family. I need to focus on what God is giving and teaching me through this trial, rather than focusing on what Satan is taking away.
    5. Yes, I do need to be told to “settle down”. Did I audibly just hear you say that? I really think I did – ha!
    6. After looking back at my answer to number five, I’ve been reflecting on what God has given me during this trial the last three years. We were blessed with our first grandchild who is healthy and vibrant and makes joy radiate out of every pore in my body. I accepted a much less stressful job. I was apprehensive at first because I took a sizable cut in pay, but God has provided. The same dollar from three years ago when we controlled our finances sure goes a lot farther with God controlling our finances. I’ve gained a family at my new job, not just a set of co-workers. My oldest son was accepted to his medical residency in Radiology in a town only two hours from here. My youngest son was accepted to Pharmacy school. God showed me through those two events that He will provide for my children. I no longer have to worry about that. I have been abundantly blessed with the commodity that is more precious than any currency – time! I have more time with my family. time to go out with girlfriends, time to study the Word and catch up on some reading, time to relax in a hot soaking tub, time to sit out on the swing and literally do nothing but take in the beauty of God’s masterpiece He painted in nature. Best of all, time to snuggle up with my husband in this empty nest we now share! Instead of sitting on the couch, my husband has gone back to school taking on-line classes and a few night classes during this “recovery” period in order to obtain his accounting degree. He has finished his Associates Degree thus far and never would have gone back to school if it hadn’t been for this injury. Weird how that one turned out, huh? Wow, this exercise has made me focus on what truly is happening here. If I really analyze it, life is more peaceful now than it was three years ago with both of us in high-stress jobs, working insane hours while still having a teenager at home.
    Great exercise! I was so tempted to read the other responses first, but I didn’t. I’m sure I probably wrote a book compared to most, but the exercise was a success for me. It has made me start focusing on what I’m gaining while walking through this trial, rather than what I’m losing.
    Thanks!

  31. 431
    Kim B. in Az says:

    1. I read these verses in ESV, NIV 1984, HCSB, and NAS. Isaiah 30:15-18
    Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
    15 For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you are not willing.” 16 You say, “No! We will escape on horses”— therefore you will escape!— and, “We will ride on fast horses”— but those who pursue you will be faster. 17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you will flee, until you alone remain like a solitary pole on a mountaintop or a banner on a hill. The Lord’s Mercy to Israel 18 Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for Him are happy.
    But I also some of the wording in verse 15 in the NAS version helped make the meaning a little clearer
    15 For thus the Lord [a]God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In [b]repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing

    2. Threat means- A menace; denunciation of ill’ declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, loss or pain on another.
    Not sure I really feel threatened at this moment.

    3. I tend to disengage with the person or avoid the situation. I don’t like confrontation at all. I tend to act like I was not bothered by it all, but if I get mad then the person will hear about it. I don’t want people to not like me. I know it is not healthy and I am trying to do this all in a more healthy way.

    In a way I am in a fleeing mode.

    4. In Isaiah it talks about how are salvation comes when we repent and rest in the Lord and strength comes in quietness and trust. but if we say no to God then we will be over taken by our enemies. I think that this concept is supported by both the 1 Peter passage and the James passage. In the 1 Peter passage it talks about how we need to be self-controlled and alert, and we need to stand firm in our faith while resisting. Then after awhile God will make use strong, firm and steadfast. Just like in Isa we must turn to God and trust him to have salvation and strength. Again in the James passage we see that we must submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee. In other words if we submit to God and resist the enemy we will not be overtaken by the enemy.
    5. Yes, I get in a hurry to be perfect now. I get so frustrated with myself. I just can’t see that I have gotten anywhere in overcoming those things that I am struggling with because I have messed up somehow. In short I expect perfection from myself and when I am not I feel like a failure. I also transfer this thinking to God. I know that is not really how God thinks about me, but I am not always successful in getting myself to believe that it is true where I am concerned. True for everyone, yes but not so much for me. Not sure that makes any sense.

    6. Settle down, trust Him and take Him at his word. Stop being so hard on myself and rest in Him. Resist the devil and don’t believe the lies.

  32. 432
    Kim B. in Az says:

    1. I read these verses in ESV, NIV 1984, HCSB, and NAS. Isaiah 30:15-18
    Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
    15 For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you are not willing.” 16 You say, “No! We will escape on horses”— therefore you will escape!— and, “We will ride on fast horses”— but those who pursue you will be faster. 17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you will flee, until you alone remain like a solitary pole on a mountaintop or a banner on a hill. The Lord’s Mercy to Israel 18 Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for Him are happy.
    But I also some of the wording in verse 15 in the NAS version helped make the meaning a little clearer
    15 For thus the Lord [a]God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In [b]repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing

    2. Threat means- A menace; denunciation of ill’ declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, loss or pain on another.
    Not sure I really feel threatened at this moment.

    3. I tend to disengage with the person or avoid the situation. I don’t like confrontation at all. I tend to act like I was not bothered by it all, but if I get mad then the person will hear about it. I don’t want people to not like me. I know it is not healthy and I am trying to do this all in a more healthy way.

    In a way I am in a fleeing mode.

    4. In Isaiah it talks about how are salvation comes when we repent and rest in the Lord and strength comes in quietness and trust. but if we say no to God then we will be over taken by our enemies. I think that this concept is supported by both the 1 Peter passage and the James passage. In the 1 Peter passage it talks about how we need to be self-controlled and alert, and we need to stand firm in our faith while resisting. Then after awhile God will make use strong, firm and steadfast. Just like in Isa we must turn to God and trust him to have salvation and strength. Again in the James passage we see that we must submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee. In other words if we submit to God and resist the enemy we will not be overtaken by the enemy.

    5. Yes, I get in a hurry to be perfect now. I get so frustrated with myself. I just can’t see that I have gotten anywhere in overcoming those things that I am struggling with because I have messed up somehow. In short I expect perfection from myself and when I am not I feel like a failure. I also transfer this thinking to God. I know that is not really how God thinks about me, but I am not always successful in getting myself to believe that it is true where I am concerned. True for everyone, yes but not so much for me. Not sure that makes any sense.

    6. Settle down, trust Him and take Him at his word. Stop being so hard on myself and rest in Him. Resist the devil and don’t believe the lies.

  33. 433
    Jolie Nisbet says:

    1. NIV, HCSB, MSG
    Isaiah 30:15-18
    The Message (MSG)
    God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right
    15-17 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
    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 you—
    a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
    a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18 But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
    He’s 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.

    2. Threat
    1: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage 2: one that threatens 3: an indication of something impending
    In this particular season my very life is being threatened by the evil of cancer. I was dealt an initial blow ten years ago at the tender age of 35. Six good years followed before the evil threat recurred. This time I was told there was no cure but only treatments in an effort to control it. It has been a long four-year battle and the threat is now proving itself to be very real.

    3. Right now “fleeing” for me looks more like “hurrying towards a place of security” – trying to avoid the injurious threat and looking to hide myself in the only one who can deliver me. I am most definitely in fleeing mode, daily seeking God’s transforming presence in extended periods of quietness and solitude.

    4. 1 Peter 5:8-10 calls us to discipline ourselves, to stay alert. In order to resist the devil we need to “stand firm” in our faith. Vs. 10 says that after we have suffered a little while He himself will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast.

    James 4:7 exhorts us to submit ourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee. The HCSB Study Bible notes define “resist” as a military term used to describe an army arrayed for battle.

    This provides a very comforting picture to me. When I turn to God and humble myself before Him, He will send His army to actively resist the evil one on my behalf. According to Isaiah 30:18 He’s just waiting to show his gracious character as He gathers His strength and His mighty forces.

    5. I have learned this “settling down” the hard way. It has taken some recent hard physical knocks to fully comprehend its significance. I have had little choice but to rest and quiet myself before Him. But I have found and will continue to find my strength and salvation in the still, quiet trust of the Faithful One.

    6. I’m reminded of Psalm 32:7 NIV
    You are my hiding place;
    You will protect me from trouble
    And surround me with songs of deliverance.

    I must, with a repentant heart, quietly trust in the goodness and strength of my God and invite His army to fight on my behalf. He loves me and longs to extend his grace, mercy, and compassion even though I am undeserving. As I “stand firm” I know that He will personally restore, establish, strengthen and support me. I will wait on Him and listen, for He will not disappoint!

  34. 434
    Sondra says:

    Sondra, Lincoln, Ca.

  35. 435
    Sondra says:

    Sondra, Lincoln, Ca.
    1. KJ, NAS, NIV

    15. This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
    In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.16. You s aid, “No, we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! You said,”We will ride off on swift horses.” Therefore your pursuerswill be swift! 17. 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 flgstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” 18. 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. Threat: a declaration of an intention to inflict punishment, injury etc. as in retaliation for, or conditionally upon some action or course. 2, an indication or warning of probable trouble. 3, a person or thing that threatens. 4. Archaic, to threaten, pressure or hardship.

    In the first and second reading of this definiton, I didn’t relate. I don’t necessiarly feel threatened at this season of my life(72) and then it hit me, of course, I feel threatened.

    I have health issues that prevent me from doing very much. The threat or “warning of probably trouble” is my physical realm. I feel more and more that I am unable to do all that needs to be done physically.

    3. Fleeing in my life right now is doing nothing. I flee from the process of any activiity that causes me physical pain. YES, I am fleeing for all I’m worth.

    4. All three passages are encouraging me to depend on God for my strength in any situation that I find myself.

    5. “Settle down”
    Yes, I do! I need to take the focus off me and direct it toward God.

    6. My daughter has been encouraging me to try a personal trainer that will come to my home to work with me. I’ve been going back and forth in my mind, knowing I need to take some forward moving action, but fearful of more pain and discomfort. This short study has pushed me in the direction of action.

    Thank you Beth for who you are and all you do.

  36. 436
    Robbie says:

    NIV,HCSB, Charles Stanley’s Life Principal Bible (my own Bibles)
    (short on time have to get to work so hear is what I learned)
    HCBS
    Thinking I am the ONLY ONE to handle or fix any given situation is rebellion.
    He is waiting on me to repent and there I will find quiet confidence in his provisions.

  37. 437
    Laurie McNab says:

    Isaiah 30:15-18
    New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
    15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.
    16 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!
    17 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.”
    18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
    he rises to show you compassion.
    For the LORD is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!
    THREAT: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
    1 Peter 5:8-10
    New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
    8 Be self-controlled and alert. 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 your brothers throughout the world are 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.
    James 4:7
    New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
    7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

    I try to run away from something I have done or a situation I am in that I do not like.
    I try to remove myself, change a job, avoid someone, move…isolate. Yes I am considering fleeing which is very interesting that I happened upon this lesson. I have been praying for God to speak and He certainly has.
    I have considered other seasons of life and thought my difficulties where because I had done or said something that was wrong and I was reaping what I had sown. I am in a place that is not going well these days. I have been very afraid that I may again be reaping what I have sown. So frightened that I could just BOLT. I have been crying out to God for HELP!!!, asking Him to Speak. This passage says to me repent and turn to Me! I will have compassion. Don’t try to fix this. You can’t fix it, only though repentance can it be restored. You only create a bigger mess with all your vain efforts to get yourself free. The difference in these seasons in my life that I can identify is an absence of rebellion at this point, possibly still foolishness but more contrite of nature.

  38. 438
    Heather Terhune says:

    1.
    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.
    Isaiah 30 NET

    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: He confessed under the threat of imprisonment.
    At this time of my life my biggest threat is failure. Failure at my job, failure to be the mom I am supposed to be, failure to glorify God as I should. I recognize this is from pride and it negates God’s power in my life. But these are threats from my flesh that I must constantly battle.

    3. Fleeing usually is a first thought out of fear. I want to flee whenever someone hurts my feelings or criticizes me. I want to flee when I think about adopting and the change this will bring to my life, to become parents. It should be something I desire more than anything else, yet it scares me and I am choosing to be a parent through adoption. Whenever I flee, I run from God first, because I know what I should be doing out of obedience to Him. I am not fleeing at this present time, because by His Spirit I have been given the strength to stand and face my fears. I am reminded of His promises and He keeps reminding me He is faithful.

    4. Instead of fleeing from our enemy we should resist him. His power is nothing compared to our great God’s. This requires us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and submit to His authority and sovereignty over our lives. We need to be alert and aware that our enemy is out there and he desires to take us captive. Instead of scattering to the four winds we remain steadfast knowing that we are all in this together and can stand together against our enemy. We should calmly trust in the strength of God and remain steadfast in Him.

    5. Yes! We tend to get so worked up in our lives and the anxiety threatens to drown us, plus we want to control the situation so we end up running around like a chicken with our head cut off. If we would just settle down or simmer down now, we would relax and depend on the Lord and find strength to face the enemy.

    6.The greatest insight I have received from this is that, while my gut reaction may be to flee, I can stand firm knowing there is a greater picture. We think we have to make everything perfect and keep it from spinning out of control. That key word “control” rules our lives. And when we lose control we want to head for the hills. But the truth is, to be eternally relevant, we only must keep our eyes on Christ. His storehouses are overflowing in riches. As a child of God they are mine to claim. Allowing Him to have control and reaping the benefits of a life lived in obedience to Him makes us eternally relevant to this world and keeps us from fleeing from the enemy. Because the enemy all of a sudden doesn’t look like an army of thousands but of one to five soldiers.

  39. 439
    Angie says:

    1. Isaiah 30:15-18
    The Message; NASB
    NIV15 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.
    16 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!
    17 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.”
    18 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 1: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage 2: one that threatens 3: an indication of something impending
    There is a big threat that the evil one will destroy a part of my life. Satan is infiltrating those around me to make them fall and he is relentless. One minute is seems as though all is well but it is not he is laying in wait.

    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?
    I am most prone to flee in confrontation. I pray but that is all that I do. There are times when a situation has to be dealt with head on but I tend to let it go as see if it works out on it’s own. This tends to especially be true when a biblical reference is much warranted.
    4. Isaiah is telling me that I do flee and the more that I flee the more Satan will pursue. Peter and James and telling me to stand firm and not to give up. God is there always.
    5. “Settle down” make me laugh because that is what my husband tells me when I get a little, hyper about a subject. Yes I need to be told this at times. I get carried away and/or flee and it seems as if I can’t settle down.
    6. Wow, this was needed at just the right time. I know that God has his perfect timing but it always amazes me. Why I have no clue because he is a great and gracious God and he will never forsake me. I just need to “settle down” and let Him…

  40. 440
    Connie says:

    1. Amplified
    Message
    The Net Bible

    Isaiah 30:15-18
    The Message (MSG)
    God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right
    15-17 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
    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 you—
    a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
    a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18 But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
    He’s 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.

    2. threat
    noun
    1.a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc., in retaliation for, orconditionally 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.

    I am being “threatened” with the affects of aging on my physical body. I have always dealt with (or not) body image issues and not always in a healthy way. Now that I am over 50 and had my first major health issue last fall, I am hypervigilant of the signs of aging in my body. I am realizing how not healed I am in that area.

    3. Fleeing – is withdrawing into my “selfcentered, controlled environment”. Disconnecting from those around me that might notice my flaws and/or offer advice or sympathy. (If I withdraw first, then it is my decision, not anyone’s rejection.)

    4. Compare or contrast the Isaiah text (30:15-18) to 1 Peter 5:8-10 and James 4:7
    Satan works in concert with my ego to threaten my peace and relationships in this area. Although we plunge headlong into situations at times, at others we are affected simply by being a member of the human race on this planet. We are called to withstand and resist the devil, but this cannot be done on our own. We must first be subject to God and receive the grace He imparts for that purpose.

    5. “settle down!” BREATHE!! Be present in each moment. Understand that this is part of this portion of this life – it is not the end! It is not the most important aspect of life! LIVE with Him – see where it all goes and how it all shakes out. Stop trying to control everything!

    6. personal insight you gained from it and, most of all, what you discern God is saying to you through it
    Everything in proportion – realizing SOUL health is of top priority!!!!

  41. 441
    Shannon Mims says:

    30:15-18
    New International Version (NIV)
    15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.
    16 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!
    17 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.”
    18 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!
    Other versions read: NLT, KJV

    So what does fleeing look like to me? Staying home in my safe little environment and never taking chances because I might fail. Missing out on a big adventure with my awesome God. He knows me though. He knows that I am trying so hard to be the girl He created me to be. He longs to be gracious to me. What a priceless thought!

  42. 442
    Betsy Carr says:

    1. NKJ, ESV, The Message
    NASB 15 For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, 16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee ! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. 17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a flag on a mountaintop And as a signal on a hill.
    God Is Gracious and Just

    18 Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to havecompassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice ; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

    2. threat- 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. Origin: before 900; (noun) Middle English threte, Old English thrēat pressure, oppression; cognate with Old Norsethraut hardship, bitter end; (v.) Middle English threten, Old English thrēatian to press, threaten

    Currently I am threatened on an emotional and spiritual level, not physical. The threat is to pull me away from Christ, from depending and resting in Him and to question and doubt everything. Insecurities about my relationships with others, questioning my self worth, doubting my abilities, belittling who I am and what I do, fears that my life will have been lived in vain and I will have “missed it” and not been all I could be for the glory of God – it is a battle to determine whether I will continue to seek Christ, rest in Him and allow Him to lead my footsteps, or will I crumble under the weight of threats from the enemy. The battle is often fought in the mind. When I am trusting and resting and quiet in Him, I am able to see His hand at work, the doors He opens, and the ones He closes. I hear His voice, and can feel His presence. As I turn my ear away from Him and am distracted, I am restless, unsettled, frantic and honestly become irritable. It is then I am ravaged by the enemy.

    3. When I am in flight mode, productivity drops, things go undone and are forgotten. I am distracted and find myself trying to be satisfied by “stuff” or by “doing things” for others. trying to always be “busy” invades, and my relationship with the Lord suffers greatly. It is a daily decision and battleground. Will I surrender to my Father, rest in Him, find strength, hope and peace in Him, or will I give in to distractions and believe the lies that threaten my walk with the Lord and testimony to others? Today, I am choosing to seek Him, to stand against the enemy and find my strength in resting in my Lord, and in my faith in Him.

    4. Both Isaiah and 1 Peter give a warning or wake up call to be alert and stand firm in our faith. They warn of the enemy. In Isaiah, the people reject the call and flee. 1 Peter gives a direct command to be sober, alert, awake-resist by being firm and rooted in your faith, knowing you do not stand or suffer alone. We are told after suffering (suffering is a given-it will come!), God Himself, our Creator, will perfect (katartizo- to render, to mend (what has been broken or rent); to repair; to complete; to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust; make one what he ought to be – from Strong’s concordance), confirm (sterizo – to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix; to strengthen, make firm; to render constant, confirm, one’s mind – from Strong’s), establish (themelioo – to lay the foundation, to found; to make stable – – from the word themelios which metaphorically means the foundations, beginnings, first principals, of institution, or system of truth -from Strong’s) and strengthen (sthenoo – to make strong, strengthen; of one’s soul; akin to histemi which had a definition of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver – From Strong’s) us!! Amen and hallelujah! To have our Father Himself give us such a firm foundation to stand on and put us so firmly in place, fortified and strengthened in every way based on His truth, making us what we ought to be, equipping us and making us constant—yes, Lord God!! The touch of the Master’s hand on me and established in such a way that if I am resting and trusting in Him, no enemy will be able to defeat or tear down what He alone has set in place!

    5. Do I need these words? YES! I need constantly to be reminded of Whose power I stand in and Whose I am. To be reminded that it is not in my strength I stand and fight the enemy, but by resting, settling down in Him, He alone provides the victory! I need to stop thrashing around and being the enemy’s “rag doll” tossed all about! The battle is His!

    6. Well, I kinda did this in #4. 🙂 Bottom line, God has reminded me to be “calm and collected in Spirit” and to be aware of the enemy. The plan of action is to surrender and settle down in Him, trusting and resting in Him and knowing the victory is already His. With cold temperatures and a couple of recent snow days with the kids, I have a mental picture of “settling down” as we have snuggled up in a warm blanket and rested on the couch, knowing we are in for the day, safe and secure. In the same way, I think our Father wants us to have the security and peace of crawling up in His lap, being safe and wrapped in His love and protection, to stay put if you will in His arms and to trust Him and rest in Him. The enemy has been defeated. Thank you Beth for the “assignment” for the weekend. What a thrill to be in God’s Word!

  43. 443
    Susan in Dayton says:

    1. NIV, ESV, GNT, KJV & HCSB
    Isaiah 30:15-18
    Good News Translation (GNT)
    15 The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says to the people, “Come back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure.” But you refuse to do it. 16 Instead, you plan to escape from your enemies by riding fast horses. And you are right—escape 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
    noun \ˈthret\
    Definition of 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 by a family issue.
    3. How do I flee? Get involved in something else. Distract myself from the problem and ignore it. Right now I don’t think that I’m fleeing…at least in this area.

    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.
    In the Isaiah text, God is telling us what we are doing and NOT to do it. He states that he is waiting for us to turn to him with our problems…He is waiting with his mercy and grace. He wants us to trust Him.
    In 1 Peter, God is calling us to the actions of trusting God and resisting Satan. Again he mentions God’s grace that will come to our aide.
    In James, God is telling us to submit to God and resist the Devil. I think this is the other side of the coin of trusting God. If I trust God in my situation, I will also willing place myself under his authority in the situation. This does not include running from the situation by denying its existence.
    5. “Settle down in complete dependence on me.”
    Yes, I need to hear this because of a present situation. I need to not only continue to give the situation to Him but I also need to QUIT WORRYING ABOUT THE OUTCOME. For me it is a thin line between denying that the problem exists and giving it to God and totally trusting Him for its outcome. These two things can sometimes look very similar in my life.
    6. I feel like God is saying two things to me:
    1) Yes, this is a problem…a big problem…It is something to be concerned about.
    2) Yes, I, God, can handle the whole thing. Don’t deny that it is a problem but don’t be afraid of what will happen either.

  44. 444
    Carol says:

    1. KJV, NLT, MSG
    MSG – 15-17 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 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 you— a flagpole on a hill with no flag, a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s 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.

    2. THREAT – an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage – I feel threaten when I partake in these types of exercises. Afraid my responses may not be adequate.

    3. Fleeing is me doing nothing due to being overwhelmed; instead of trusting in God one step at a time.

    4. James 4:7 So let God Work in you! I need to slow down and allow God to assist me EVEN in the daily tasks.

    5. So Let God work his will in you.

    6. This exercise came just at the right time. On Friday I dropped 8 pieces of mail into the mailbox – without postage! Then I read this blog and knew I needed to stop and partake in this exercise. I need to stop, breathe and trust in Our Lord!

  45. 445
    Jodie from Kansas City says:

    Beth, I’m sorry not to be doing the full assignment, but thank you for sharing this verse. It goes along so well with my 1st first, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'” I am weak, and I cannot save myself, but I keep trying. I had a baby last summer, and I keep tripping over my own efforts and failures to lose the extra weight. It is an area where I am genuinely weak, and I need His support and help. I need to rest and settle and trust in Him.

  46. 446
    Kelly Ivins says:

    1. NIV, NLT, MSG
    Isaiah 30:15-18
    The Message (MSG)
    God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right
    15-17 
    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
    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 you—
    a flagpole on a hill with no flag,
    a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off.”
    18 
    But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
    He’s 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.

    2. Definition of THREAT
    1
    : an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage
    2
    : one that threatens
    3
    : an indication of something impending

    We just found out that we are being tranferred from New England, where I have lived my entire life, to Atlanta. I feel the impending threat of insecurity as I think of moving somewhere where I no virtually no one and have no history.

    3. Fleeing usually takes the form of avoidance in my life. Avoiding what needs to be done, avoiding in inevitable, avoiding conflict.
    4. 1 Peter 5:8-10
    New Living Translation (NLT)
    8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters[a] all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
    10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
    James 4:7
    New Living Translation (NLT)
    7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
    Message: Cling to God in all things
    5. YES!! My soul is longing to “settle down” and TRUST Him in this move!
    6. “Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on Me.” Oh, how I need those words right now!!!! So much fear in my heart as we need to sell our home in an upside down market. Fear that we won’t be able to buy a home in Atlanta. Fear that I won’t have history there to comfort me. May my comfort come from God alone!

  47. 447
    Tasha says:

    NIV Amplified NLT
    Isaiah 30:15-18(NLT)\
    15 This is what the Sovereign LORD,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “Only 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, ‘No, 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!
    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. threaten – an intention to inflict pain, damage, A menace of harm, such as may restrain a person’s freedom of action. I feel that my peace of mind… sound mind is being threatened. The freedom to respond and live as God would have me is being restrained.
    .
    3. Fleeing right now….looks like me being paralyzed. I’m studying my Bible. Leading the Daniel study in my community. Reading through the Bible chronologically. Doing my day in and day out responsibilities as a wife and mother. But I struggle with taking care of myself physically. It is the strangest thing to me right now. I don’t get it .But I feel paralyzed in that area….like I can’t budge.
    4. Resist the devil. He is a prowling lion just waiting to pounce and devour me. Otherwise I will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop with the Lord waiting for me to return to Him.
    5. “settle down!” Yes? I get in the “do –mode” and forget to just settle into Him and depend on Him not me.
    6. I feel lost inside myself and instead of searching and searching inside of me, maybe I just need to settle into Him and let Him….

  48. 448
    Kathleen says:

    1. NASB, New Living,
    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.
    16 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!
    17 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.”
    18 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. I feel most threatened by the possibility of job loss, for my husband and me. We both work for organizations which continue to downsize.
    3. My tendency to flee is not seen by the naked eye, but is an internal flight. I flee to my imagination; a place where I am the author of my circumstance. It usually begins with a noble thought of having the means to help another in need but quickly turns to having the means to satisfy my own desires. In this place I own the house and car of my dreams. I wear the nicest clothing and I’m thinner and prettier. I am loved and adored for my intellect and wit. And everyone who has ever rejected me is now proven a fool. I have no worries, no MS, no pain. I become very detailed in my thoughts; I decorate my home and fill my closets with beautiful things. One home isn’t enough and so I purchase one or more vacation homes. It’s not long before my indulgence is so excessive that it sickens me and I repent in utter disgrace before my Lord. Ashamed for making myself god.

  49. 449
    Dawn says:

    1. ESV, The Message, NIV

    New International Version (NIV)

    15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
    “In repentance and rest is your salvation,
 in quietness and trust is your strength,
 but you would have none of it.
    16
    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!
    17
    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.”
    18
    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. Threat: 1. an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage; 2. one that threatens; 3. an indication of something impending (Merriam-Webster)

    3. Avoiding tasks; playing a lot of Drop 7; shutting down and not living fully; trouble focusing
    Partway – trying not to be, but feeling heaviness of recent event and weird tension with circle of specific people (real or imagined???)

    4. This is a spiritual battle. Stand firm, even as you’re getting down on your knees in humble obedience to Christ.

    5. I keep being told, “WAIT” for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 30:18) I’ve got to quit trying to fix things myself and allow God to work out HIS plans in the circumstances and people in my life. My current memory work is: “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1. Thess 5:16-18) The joy of the Lord truly is my strength. I know this, so why do I keep trying to frownfully force my way through life like Martha, rather than experiencing JOY by waiting on and for the Lord like Mary?

    6. God is telling me to trust Him because He is trustworthy and His steadfast love endures forever. REJOICE because He Lives! Quit trying to control events, people, and circumstances. Let Him have His way. He loves me, has trusted me with a specific ministry where He has placed me specifically, and wants to have His way in this place at this time. I need to get out of the way and be filled with joy as I see what God has planned!

  50. 450
    Ashley says:

    1. ESV
    HCSB
    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:
    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

    How do I feel most threatened in this season?
    I guess right now I feel kind of threatened by the unknown. My husband and I work full-time in college ministry and we just transitioned overseas, where we will be for almost a year. It’s a bit scary to go full speed ahead knowing that I have no idea what’s coming or what ministry looks like. So the unfamiliar and the feeling of knowing I am definitely not in control feels scary right now.

    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?
    I have more recently realized that I flee situations that make me feel vulnerable or overwhelmed by covering myself or hiding. I frequently will resort to trusting in myself or trying to “do” for God to prove myself or earn his approval instead of facing the situation and my heart head on with the Lord. Last week I definitely felt myself “fleeing” because I was out of my comfort zone, and quite overwhelmed. I found myself trying to pretend I was okay.

    4. Just an observation… in my “fleeing” God and looking to my own devices, I am actually giving satan more opportunity to devour. In my “fleeing” I am in fact not resisting the devil, I’m actually giving in to him. In my “fleeing” I’m not submitting to God and inviting the devil in.

    5. Yes… in this somewhat overwhelming transition, God seems to be saying “settle down” in a way. Mostly He’s been saying “listen to me, follow me, and trust me” which could definitely be the same thing as “settle down! Stop worrying! You can trust me for all things.”

    6. This is what I feel God is saying to me: “Come to Me…depend on Me…trust Me..be satisfied in Me. Even in the times that you want to “flee” from whatever is going on in ministry this year, draw near to Me and pour out your heart to me. I, the LORD, will be your guide when you cannot see or do not know what to do. Use these times of uncertainty to be strengthened by Me. Wait for me to speak to you, and listen. I only have grace to give you in your time of need. Sometimes you refuse to rest in Me…but know that resting in Me is how you will find true rest and life for your soul.”
    (He has also been speaking Isaiah 55:2-3 to me over and over again the past couple weeks)

Leave a Reply

To receive a daily digest of comments on this post, enter your email address below: