Isaiah 8

"Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread” (v12). God told Isaiah not to be terrified by the challenges Israel was facing from the Assyrians. Because the Israelite people had turned to sin and followed idols, they were truly “in dread” of their enemies and seeing conspiracies everywhere. Instead, “the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread” (v13).

Rather than fearing our enemies, we are called to honor God as holy. He is “a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling …” (v14).