Isaiah Chapter 7

The period of the kings is one that is filled with wars. No one likes wars – Wars are terrifying. Isaiah 7:2 describes the heart of Ahaz and his people being “moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind”.

But we see God’s mercy to King Ahaz, assuring him multiple times that everything will be okay.

From Isaiah 7:3 to Isaiah 7:9, God tells Ahaz through Isaiah that he does not need to fear or be fainthearted about Ephraim or Syria. God affirms that their evil plots will not stand or come to pass, and that within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken.

From Isaiah 7:10 onwards, God spoke again to Ahaz, allowing him to ask for a sign from God, that he may believe and be established. 

But Ahaz did not believe. 

Ahaz chooses instead to turn to the king of Assyria rather than to God (2 Kings 16:7-9). He sends messengers to Tiglath-Pileser, the king of Assyria, saying that he is his servant and his son (shouldn’t he be a servant of God instead?). He even took silver and gold from the house of the Lord sent it as a present to the king of Assyria. 

Though Judah did receive relief from its enemies (2 Kings 16:9), Judah would become a vessal to Assyria for 30 years (Isaiah 7:17; 2 Chronicles 28:20-21).

In fact, King Ahaz would go on to commit even greater abominations, building an altar according to the design and pattern of an altar he saw at Damascus and making offerings on it (2 Kings 16:10-16). The bronze altar, the rightful altar on which sacrifices to the Lord should be made, was moved to the side. 

As if giving the silver and gold from the house of the Lord to the king of Assyria wasn’t bad enough, he gathered the other articles of the house of the Lord, cut them up, and shut the doors of the house of God. He made altars in every corner of Jerusalem, and high places for other gods in every city of Judah (2 Chronicles 28:24-25).

He was described as one who encouraged moral decline in Judah (2 Chronicles 28:19). And though in times of distress God affirmed him and promised him deliverance, King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord (2 Chronicles 28:22).

This seems strange. How could someone who received God’s assurances and promises turn out like this?

But if we take a moment to reflect, are we not often in the same position?

Through sermons we are reminded that God will provide. The Bible is filled with many promises, reminding us in many places to seek God first and obey Him, and everything else will be okay. Our own lives are also filled with various little testimonies of God taking care of us.

Yet we still often rely on our own means and seek our own ways instead.

God has shown (and continues to show) His mercy towards us. He wants to help us face life’s battles, to deliver us and make us victorious.

The question is, how will we choose to face our battles today?

I am reminded of what the father of a child with a mute spirit said to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Though we have received God’s promises and assurances and do believe in God, we sometimes still have some unbelief in us, preventing us from entrusting all into His hands.

May God help us overcome our unbelief, that we may cling on to His promises and rely on Him to face life’s battles.

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