The One You Fear

Isaiah 8:13
13The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread,

Both houses of Israel, Judah and Israel, relied on Assyria and feared Assyria. Yet the Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to remind them that it is only the Lord himself whom they ought to regard as such. Has much changed? Too many rely on man and fear man more than the Lord who gives them breath. They don't fear the Lord who has the ability to give, sustain and take life. When appearance by man's standards means more than the Lord Almighty, there is an imbalance. When fear of failure is more important than the Lord's will there is an imbalance. When fear of non-acceptance by man or group of people is more important than the Lord's will again, there is an imbalance. Jesus said to the disciples in Matthew 10:28 "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."  Your final destination is determined by God himself. It may seem far fetched to you if a man is holding a gun to your head but if you have a right relationship with the Lord, then you know no matter what, you will see the face of Jesus. However, if you let man dictate your outcomes rather the Lord as did Assyria, when you are in deep trouble, man will not be able to pull you out. Only the Lord will be able to deliver you. Israel experienced it over and over. Many times they made alliances with Assyria and Egypt for what they thought were their sources of living. But soon those alliances turned to dust and the Assyrians and Egyptians made war with Israel. Israel had to cry out to the Lord to save them. In what ways or situations have you feared man rather than the Lord? Wasn't it the Lord who came to your aid when man turned on you?