For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Isaiah 8:11-13

Isaiah was given a message to preach to the people. He was told to tell them to stop seeking out a “confederacy” and instead to “sanctify the Lord and let Him be their fear.”

The people of Judah were afraid. Assyria was conquering the world and looked to be setting their sights on Jerusalem. Instead of trusting God, they sought out alliances (confederacy) with other nations. God’s message to them is very blunt: The only thing you have to fear…is ME.

No one should be afraid of the workers of evil. The only thing to fear is God. Let Him be what motivates us to act. Fear over Assyria was driving Judah to act in irrational ways, seeing out treaties with godless lands. If they would have just trusted God entirely, they would have nothing to fear, because there’s nothing bigger than God (which is why He says, “I’m all you have to worry about.”).

So consider this a bit of sound advice: God doesn’t need backup. He doesn’t need you looking to buddy up with someone. He doesn’t need help. He doesn’t need an extra hand. He can do it all on His own.

We just need to trust Him.