Firm in Faith: Isaiah speaks with Ahaz

I recently began to read through the book of Isaiah once again. In the seventh chapter of Isaiah the prophet is delivering a message from God to King Ahaz, of Judah. The Assyrians had just overtaken the Philistines and were turning there sights on the areas of Syria, Israel, and Judah. King Rezin of Syria had made a mutual agreement with Israel to ally in opposition to the impending Assyrian attack. The two asked for Ahaz to join them, and upon the refusal declared war together on Judah.

To say the least this left Ahaz and Judah shaking in their boots with nowhere to turn and that is when Isaiah shows up. He tells Ahaz that he is not to align with Syria and Israel because they will be swept away by Assyria. The real threat is Assyria and the Lord will protect Judah if they will trust Him alone. Then the Lord tells Ahaz through Isaiah, "If you are not firm in faith you will not be firm at all." - Isaiah 7:9b

In other words, if you do not believe and trust me then whatever footing you think you have is nothing but a figment of your imagination. If you align with Israel and Syria to avoid war and to fight against Syria, the very people you trust will really be your destruction.

This is a great word for myself! Whatever I trust in more than the provision and care of my Lord is merely a figment of my imagination and can have the same fate as did Israel and Syria in that day. The Lord is unchanging and never failing. My faith must be strong in him in order to be firm at all.

In relation to student ministry, the Lord has reminded me that we are teaching students to become strong in the faith by faithfully proclaiming the love, holiness, and justice of an unchanging and completely trustworthy Lord. Many times students are taught how to fix a faulty faith when in all honesty we are teaching them some aspects of the faith for the first time. It is not that they know and are deliberately disobeying (which is sometimes the case) but more often are simply ignorant of the way the Spirit of God through the Word of God can change their mind and transform their life as they see God with more clarity responding in stronger faith.

May all the students at Richland Creek grow firm in their faith so that they may be firm in the face of adversity and be successful in the face of challenge. May the Lord grant me clarity and knowledge in the way I discern needs and communicate life transforming truth through the power of the Holy Spirit, along with all the teachers in the student ministry.

The image above is of Tiglath-pileser III the King of Assyria at the time of this event around 734 BC.