Isaiah 28:15-16

Main Thought: This statement concerning the tribe of Ephraim in Israel was a very sad tale of the sin which they had descended into, followed by the declaration of the judgment of God upon them. They had deluded themselves into thinking that their sin had no consequences from God, but in reality, they had made a “covenant with death” because of their sin. God sent prophets to Israel throughout their history to warn them of the consequences of turning their backs on God and His Word, but instead, they believed the words of the lying prophets, and even the lies of their own lips stating the judgment of God “will not reach us when it passes by.” How sad it is even to this day that men will choose to believe the lies of deceitful prophets instead of believing the prophets who proclaim the good news of the Gospel of Christ, choosing death instead of life. In Isaiah 28:16 we find the great prophecy of the first advent of Christ to this earth, the “tested stone”, the “costly cornerstone for the foundation”, the One who laid down His life as a sacrifice for sinners, and in whom when believed in brings not disaster and judgment, but peace and everlasting life. To rest in sin and believe that there are no eternal consequences for that sin is a deadly lie of Satan and his prophets, but to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is to believe the declaration of truth spoken by God the Father, the covenant-keeping God. The warning today is the same as it was those many centuries ago to the tribe of Ephraim and all the Jewish people, that to believe a lie will not save you but will condemn you and bring destruction, not just in the here and now but for eternity. If you have believed in Christ already, then thank God for sending this “precious stone” from Zion, and know you have eternal peace and security in Him. If you have not, stop listening to the lies and messages of false gospels, and call on He alone who will deliver you from sin and destruction.