Isa 36:5-6 NASU “I say, ‘Your counsel and strength for the war are only empty words.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

God’s people in this passage are being confronted by an army threatening to overrun them. It was an army too powerful for them to defeat! The general of this army confronts them, intimidating them. This general belittles them and their hope as being useless, and vain.

This is similar to how OUR enemy confronts and intimidates us!

In a similar way, Satan belittles the words that we hold dear! He devalues the words God speaks to us, as though those words are just “empty words.” We begin to feel that we can’t rely on God and what God has said. Our state of being can become cynical and unbelieving.

But, we must hold steady in God’s promises, the words of God. We must not give up on those words God speaks to us. That is how Abraham got HIS son, Isaac! Isaac was a promise – a word – God gave Abraham. Abraham could have given up on God’s word to him as though they were “empty words.” He had to wait decades before Isaac, the fulfillment of the promise, was born. He could have bitten into the Hopelessness that (I’m quite sure) satan was SHOUTING into Abraham’s mind! In the end, though, Abraham could not agree with satan’s accusations that God’s Promises were empty words. Abraham’s faithfulness was rewarded. (Rom.4)

Even so, let’s renounce all hopelessness. Let’s redouble our confidence in God’s promises to us! Let’s renew our determination to live in HOPE! Our hope is not in vain!

Our God is good! Our God is Faithful! We WILL see the Goodness of the Lord IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING! (Ps.27:13)