Stumbling Stones

An overall view of Isa. 8.
The small and gentle stones should be more highly valued by us than the large and rapid rocks of all the nations, and we ought not to envy the great power of the ungodly.
This could be the just punishment of peoples’ distrust and lack of obedience; and we see in it a striking instance of the wicked greediness of men, who cannot be satisfied with the promise and assistance of G-d. One can be broken in pieces if you are thrown into dismay, not watching were you walk and whom you hang out with.
Our nation may throw us into war but G-d's will is going to be done, despite all the plans and preparations. We are tempted to give away to fear and panic in the midst of our troubles, it would be easy to let our heart or mind settle on conspiracies and threats but G-d says “do not fear for He is in control!”
The Father you shall hallow; let Him be your fear. Don't see yourself at the mercy of opposing armies; you are in G-d's hands. Worry about your place with the L-RD instead of your enemies!
Let G-d, and not the problem of the world be the object of your fear. The L-RD will be your sacred place, and your place of protection. He will keep you safe from your enemies, lest you provoke His wrath by your fear of man and distrust of Him.
A stone of stumbling is but an occasion for those who trust Him, the L-RD will be as a resting place. But for those who don't, He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. Instead of finding protection from the L-RD, they will "trip" over Him, falling to destruction. Indeed, many among us shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken of sin and ruin, at whom they will take offence and stumble, so as to fall and be broken.
We know that Y’Shua is this stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (1 Peter 2:6-8). This is a strong statement of the deity of Y’Shua, because clearly in Isaiah 8:13-14, the L-RD of hosts is the stone, and clearly in 1 Peter 2:6-8, Y’Shua HaMashiach is the stone.
Waiting on the L-rd is not passive inactivity. It means to wait on the L-rd as a waiter would wait on a table. It means to be totally attentive to the L-rd, focused on His every move, and responsive to His every desire. At times it means inactivity, but even that is an "active inactivity," where we stand before the L-rd, totally focused on Him, waiting for what He wants next. We can battle against stumbling stones by setting your focus on the L-rd. Prepare for the coming attack from the world by waiting on the L-rd instead of your enemies. Waiting on the L-rd is connected with His word. We can wait on the L-rd by waiting on His word.
When you are in trouble, shouldn't you seek your G-d? If you can't rely on your G-d when you are in trouble, then what good is your G-d?
Go to G-d's Word! Law and testimony each refer to G-d's Word. We might say that law refers to God's holy commands, and testimony refers to His Glory. How it needs to be proclaimed to our pulpits today: To the law and to the testimony! Enough with your over-use of anecdotes and jokes! Enough with your emphasis on entertainment and sappy stories! Enough with your catering to itching ears! Enough with your hobbyhorses and pet peeves! To the law and to the testimony!
Let us remember, as ministers of the Gospel, what M'Cheyne beautifully said; 'Depend upon it,' said G-d, 'it is G-d's Word not man's comment upon G-d's Word, that saves souls;' and I have marked, that if ever we have a conversion at any time, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the conversion is rather traceable to the text, or to some Scripture quoted in the sermon, than to any trite or original saying by the preacher. It is G-d's Word that breaks the fetters and sets the prisoner free, it is
G-d's Word instrumentally that saves souls, and therefore let us brings everything to the touchstone.
If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them: If there is a disagreement between G-d's word and the word of the messenger, it isn't hard to figure out who is wrong. The messenger is wrong. The word judges the messenger; the messenger doesn't judge the word.
The nations will be driven into darkness: When they forsake G-d's word and trust in mediums and wizards and the dead, they are courting darkness, not light!
Beware of stumbling stones weather they be personal or national.