ISAIAH
Isaiah 7:1-9

quote:

"Now it came about in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not conquer it. 2 When it was reported to the house of David, saying, "The Arameans have camped in Ephraim," his heart and the hearts of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake with the wind. 3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the fuller's field, 4 and say to him, 'Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands, on account of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah. 5 'Because Aram, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has planned evil against you, saying, 6 "Let us go up against Judah and terrorize it, and make for ourselves a breach in its walls and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it," 7 thus says the Lord GOD: "It shall not stand nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin (now within another 65 years Ephraim will be shattered, so that it is no longer a people), 9 and the head of Ephraim is Samaria and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you will not believe, you surely shall not last."'"

Judah was at risk from neighboring nations, even Ephraim! As Assyria grew stronger the nation threatened smaller nations whose security was dependent upon a very delicate balance of power. Syria and Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom) tried to pressure Judah into an alliance against Assyria, but Ahaz refused. It was the news of the Syrians encamped in Ephraim that made Ahaz and the whole nation fearful. The whole purpose of Isaiah's message was to convince the king to place his reliance solely upon the Lord. It was a time when all appeared lost, but in this moment God intervened with a message of hope.

The Lord gave Isaiah specific instructions as to where to meet Ahaz, a place where it is thought he may have gone to inspect Jerusalem’s water supply. Isaiah took along with him his son, Shear-jashub. The significance of this is found prophetically in his name which means, "A remnant will return". God was revealing the fact that a remnant of Judah will someday return to the Lord. The boy's very presence was to serve as a sign of hope. Though Syria and Ephraim had plans to depose Ahaz and take Jerusalem, Isaiah let Ahaz know this would not happen and that within 65 years Ephraim would cease to be a nation.

Isaiah’s message to Ahaz, "Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted" could only have significance if Ahaz believed in God's promise. His words were not suggestions, but commands. Ahaz was to believe without wavering.

Verse 9 is a play on the Hebrew word "eman", meaning "to confirm" or "support" and is translated believe, trust, established, or lasting. If he does not believe he is not "established" and does not act with stability. In seeking an alliance with Tiglath-pileser, the king of Assyria, Ahaz did not act as a true heir of the Davidic throne. Within the "house of David" that God had established, he himself was not established. Without the necessary confidence in God, there was no stability.

In times of crisis "be calm and have no fear" may appear to be only empty words. God gave a similar command to Joshua as he led the children of Israel into the Land,

Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

The key to these words is that God is with us! In our time of desperate need do we walk in calm assurance and confidence that He is our Rock and our stability? Whether He intervenes to completely resolve the need or help us through it, our knowledge of His Presence and trust in Him helps us to be secure. Rather than exhibiting the unbelief of Ahaz, (who instead of turning to God relied upon someone who could not provide true security), God wants us to have the courage and confidence of Joshua. Let's place our whole-hearted faith and trust in God, The Almighty!