Ahaz is worried in Isaiah 7. There are a couple countries plotting to attack his land and he is running around in fear. Isaiah gets a word from God to give to Ahaz – actually a couple different messages. The first if one that really resonates with me. Ahaz has lost focus and connection with God. He is trying to address the issue himself. He is trying to figure out a plan and hasn’t event talked with God about it. But Isaiah brings the truth to him front and center. God says these two leaders are “mere men” and are nothing to be afraid of. Nothing bad is going to happen. But check out what Isaiah tells Ahaz here: “If you don’t take your stand in faith, you won’t have a leg to stand on”. This is a key learning for us. Faith is required to gain the power of God in our lives. We have to be willing to stand in it so we can stand on it. God wants to do great and mighty things through us. But we sometimes lose sight of the through us part and think we are doing mighty things for God. We can’t do anything on our own – God is the source of all things. Our role is to recognize that God alone is in control of the outcome and be an instrument that He can use to accomplish His plan. That means we have to be willing to stand in faith. We have to trust God and do it His way – not scheme some plan of our own and hope God blesses it. That is not how it works.
Then Isaiah gives Ahaz a second word. He tells Ahaz to ask God for a sign, but Ahaz refuses as he doesn’t want to tell God what to do. So Isaiah tells him what that the sign will be, and it is the birth of Jesus to a virgin. Isaiah prophesies about the coming Savior and His life. Another opportunity for us to exercise faith – in a relationship with God’s Son who was sent to save us from our sin. Prophesied here by Isaiah, full story in the new testament, but most importantly very alive and active in lives today. Is He your Savior? That is why He came…..for you and for me.
Posted by asorensen 
