Isaiah the prophet is sent by God to encourage Ahaz, the king of Judah. From a human perspective, it is hard to fault the fearful king. King Rezin of Syria and Pekah, king of Israel, have set out to attack Jerusalem. Their mission is to replace Ahaz with another king who will join with them against Assyria. Ahaz feels surrounded and defeated. Isaiah's words fall to him as from one with little understanding of what the political realities are at this moment. This conspiracy cannot be denied. Rezin and Pekah are plotting a hostile take-over, but the prophet comes to Ahaz and tells him to stop worrying. The overthrow of his throne will not happen.
Research has revealed that over 90% of the things that keep us up at night and steal rest from our heart, never come to pass. Worry not only robs us of peace and joy, but it renders us ineffective. Hours pass by without anything profitable accomplished when our minds are consumed by all the cares that cause our thoughts to run wild.
Later in the same chapter, Isaiah instructs the king to ask God for a sign of confirmation but Ahaz refuses. Although his reply may seem honourable, not wanting to test the Lord, in actual fact he is responding in disobedience to God's command. The Lord has invited Ahaz to ask for some evidence to validate all the prophet has said, but the king declines the opportunity. I believe he objected, because he did not really want to hear what God was going to say. Upon knowing, he would then be put in a position of making a decision to obey. Sometimes it is easier not to know what God desires, than to be held accountable and responsible for our actions.
In response, Isaiah addresses Ahaz's defiance asking, "Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn't it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well?"
Wondering if my name is Ahaz. Looking around at the valid, undeniable circumstances that can be surrounding us, is our trust evidenced by our responses? Are there times we really do not want to listen to what God has to say because He might challenge our schedule, convict our heart, call us to a deeper following that draws us outside our comfort zone? Do we sometimes actually refuse to ask for direction or seek His will because our hearts have not yet arrived at that place of surrender, to obey whatever He might ask of us? Like a little child, we place our fingers in our ears and start singing loudly, "I can't hear You."
God is coming to us today and saying in whatever situation causing concern and unease to rise, stop worrying. You do not need to fear. He sees the truth of the circumstances, but He is calling us to trust. Trust involves surrendering our concerns and resting in God's provision and promises. It requires relinquishing control. Letting go and leaning on the Lord. Ahaz chose to push divine counsel away and he missed the opportunity for deliverance. It's so easy to say we trust God, but where is that firm faith evidenced in our lives?
Father, sometimes You must look down on us as You did Ahaz. You instruct us to stop worrying. You tell us not to fear. We must exhaust Your patience often. You call us to wait in faith for Your rescue saying, "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm." Lord, help us strengthen our resolve. Without belief, we will find no relief, and worry, anxiety and fear will continue to dominate our response. Faith faces every uncertainty and difficulty with a determination not to try God's patience with unbelief, but chooses to see the situation from God's perspective. God's outcome will prevail, but how we live while waiting to see God's plans fulfilled can be dearly wasted, greatly impacting our thoughts and ability to accomplish anything. Help us trust You. Give us a firm faith.
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