Paul is a genius. Today we are going to look at Paul’s cross reference to Isaiah’s prophecy about a Stone. This stone is going to illicit two different responses. The first part of the verse depicts Jesus as a stone that causes men to stumble and fall. The second part of the verse depicts Jesus at the one that will never lead his followers to shame. Paul does a mash-up of two Isaianic messianic texts.
Isaiah 28:16 depicts the Messiah as a cornerstone set for a sure foundation that creates an incredibly stable framework. Your life is that framework. I love the word “rely” here. Do you lean on, trust and “rely” on Jesus in a way that creates calm in your life. Being in Christ is dynamic, but for sure it deals with storm. Whether it be a bunch of fisherman on the Sea or losing your job or struggling with addiction or marital problems.
We can stand in the face of those storms because of Jesus. Trust Jesus.
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[m]
16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. Isaiah 28:16
14 He will be a holy place;
for both Israel and Judah he will be
a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare. Isaiah 8:14
Father,
I trust you in my storms. Storms in this life try to throw my ship into the cliffs, but the largest storm will push me into Jesus. Jesus, I trust you with my family. I trust you with my money. I trust you with my decisions. I trust you with my knowledge of you. I trust you with my future. As long as they bring me into you, I will not pray for the wind and waves to stop. But with the storms, produce in me the rugged courage and unflinching bravery that I see in Jesus. His strength, is my strength and his peace, is my peace.
In the trustworthy name of Jesus,
AMEN
Brethren of the Feast 