Faith Over Fear (Isaiah 7:1-16)
We've got a story to unpack today, a story that's going to mess with you—in a good way. You ever find yourself pinned in a corner by life? I mean, you're getting pummeled, and every move feels like a desperate, failing lunge for safety. Well, if that's you, you're in good company today because we're diving into the life of a guy who knows exactly what that feels like. His name? Ahaz, the King of Judah.
Now, listen, Ahaz is not your poster child for godly living. I’m talking idol worship, compromising faith; the guy is far from the 'man after God's own heart' description. But get this—right when he’s cornered by his enemies, trembling like a leaf, God—yes, the God he’s been turning his back on—shows up. Not with fire and brimstone, but with grace. This God, our God, walks right into Ahaz’s mess and says, "I'm here. Ask me for a sign."
Isn't that something? God, in His shocking grace, wades through our brokenness, our rebellion, and meets us in our deepest fears. Today, we're going to look at three big moments in this incredible account from Isaiah 7
And as we unpack this, as we get rocked by God's grace and His ever-present help in times of trouble, we’re also going to drag it into this room, into our lives. We're going to see how this isn’t just Ahaz’s story; it's ours too. We're going to wrestle with what it means to be firm in faith, especially when life tries to knock us flat on our faces.
The Situation (1-2)
Isaiah 7:1–2 (ESV) — 1 In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.
Alright, here we go. Let's set the stage, shall we? Imagine you're Ahaz, King of Judah. You've got the crown, the robe, and let's be honest, you've got some skeletons in the closet, too—idols, false gods, you name it. But today, you're not thinking about any of that because your kingdom is in Code Red Crisis Mode. The big, bold letters of 'NATIONAL EMERGENCY' are flashing before your eyes. You've got Israel to the north pairing up with Syria—like two bullies joining forces on the schoolyard—and they're coming for you.
The Bible tells us that Ahaz's heart and the heart of his people shook like trees in the wind. That’s the Bible's poetic way of saying, "These folks are freaked out!" Can you picture it? Ahaz is pacing back and forth in his chamber, maybe wringing his hands, thinking, "What am I going to do now?"
This is a guy who's been leaning on his own understanding, sidestepping God, playing with idols, and suddenly he finds himself in a fix that neither he nor his false gods can get him out of. It’s like when you’re waist-deep in a mess and you realize your coping mechanisms just aren’t enough. Anyone been there? Yeah, me too.
But, church, don't miss the drama of this moment. Ahaz, the guy who’s been spiritually distant, is suddenly so important to God that God initiates the conversation. He sends the prophet Isaiah to him with a message. That’s right. In Ahaz's darkest hour, when by all accounts he doesn't deserve it, God shows up.
Why is that important for us today? Because let's be honest, we've all had our Ahaz moments, haven't we? Moments when we've pushed God to the margins of our lives, and then disaster strikes. The diagnosis comes in. The relationship crumbles. The job is lost. And we find ourselves shaking like trees in the wind, thinking God has left us to fend for ourselves.
Oh, but listen, if God can step into Ahaz’s crisis, He can step into ours. If God can initiate a conversation with a king who's been rebellious, He can surely speak into your life and mine. This isn't a God who waits for us to get our act together; this is a God who acts, who moves, who shows up.
Not Firm In Faith (3-9)
Isaiah 7:3–9 (ESV) — 3 And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, 6 “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” 7 thus says the Lord God: “ ‘It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. 9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’ ”
Alright, so we've set the table. Ahaz is in a bind; the armies are at the gate. You can almost hear the war drums, feel the tension in the air. Now, into this high-stakes scene walks Isaiah, a prophet who probably wouldn't win any popularity contests in Ahaz's court. Why? Because Isaiah has this annoying habit of telling the truth, the God’s honest truth.
Isaiah shows up not with swords or a battle strategy, but with his son, Shear-Jashub. Oh, and by the way, the kid's name means "A Remnant Shall Return." Come on, how's that for making an entrance? This isn't just Isaiah rolling in; it’s a living prophecy walking in right beside him!
So, Isaiah gets to the point: "Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint." Man, I can almost hear Ahaz's heart pounding in his chest, can't you? It's as if Isaiah is saying, "Hey man, calm down! Don't let fear take the steering wheel."
But he doesn’t stop there. Isaiah goes on to say, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” Let that sink in. Your faith isn't just a piece of the puzzle, Ahaz; it's the whole game. Without faith, you're like a house of cards, ready to collapse at the first gust of wind.
Now, how mind-blowing is it that God still wants to deal with Ahaz, a guy who's been flirting with idolatry, making all sorts of spiritual compromises? Yet, here's God, saying, "Look, you need faith. You need to trust Me. You've got to lean on Me, even when it seems like the world is falling apart."
See, this is a wake-up call, not just for Ahaz but for us. How many times have we been that shaky tree, that unsteady house of cards, all because we lacked faith? And listen, I'm not talking about some feel-good, superficial belief. I'm talking about a faith that stands firm even when life is coming apart at the seams. A faith that says, "Even if I don't understand it, I trust God's got this."
Here's the kicker: Our faith isn't just for our benefit; it's also a testimony to those watching us. How we respond in the crisis moments of life either validates our faith or makes a mockery of it. God's message to Ahaz is also a message to us: "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all."
Let's be a people who are firm in faith, so that when the storms come—and they will come—we won't be found trembling like leaves but standing strong, anchored in the trustworthiness of God.
Ask for a Sign (10-16)
Isaiah 7:10–16 (ESV) — 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.
Okay, folks, brace yourselves; we're coming in for a landing. Ahaz is pacing the floor, Isaiah’s delivered God's ultimatum about faith, and now comes the mic-drop moment. Isaiah, under the direction of God Almighty, tells Ahaz, "Ask for a sign from the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."
Can you picture Ahaz's face at this point? He's probably thinking, "Is this guy for real? A sign? From the God I’ve been snubbing?" You can almost feel the weight of the offer hanging in the air. This is God giving Ahaz a blank check, saying, "Test me. Ask anything, as wild as you can imagine, to see if I’m truly here for you." How many of us would like that opportunity?
Ahaz’s response? He says, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." Sounds pious, doesn't it? But don’t be fooled. This isn't humility; it's a cop-out. Ahaz is essentially saying, "No thanks, God. I don't want to get involved with you." This is the guy who’s too afraid to take God at His word, who’s more comfortable managing his own crisis than leaning into divine intervention.
But God's not done. Even when Ahaz won't ask for a sign, God gives one anyway. Isaiah prophesies about a virgin conceiving and bearing a son whose name will be Immanuel—God with us. Now, we know that this prophecy ultimately points to Jesus Christ, God made flesh, but in Ahaz's moment, it's a vivid, immediate assurance. God is saying, "I'm here, I'm involved, and I am with you, whether you like it or not."
So, what does this mean for us? How often have we been like Ahaz, given the opportunity to fully lean on God, and yet we balk? We hesitate because deep down, we're afraid. What if God doesn't come through? But let me tell you, our God isn't a God of 'What if'; He's a God of 'Here I am.'
The sign of Immanuel isn't just a relic of history; it's an enduring promise for you and me. God is with us. In our uncertainty, in our rebellion, in our mundane every day, and yes, even in our crisis moments, God is with us.
So here's my challenge: Let’s not be like Ahaz, reluctant to take God at His word. Let's be a people of faith, firm in faith, actively leaning into God's promises, looking for His handiwork, and living in the awe-inspiring reality that He is indeed with us.
Application: The Path of Ahaz and Our Lives
Now, we've walked through the story, lived a moment in Ahaz's sandals, and peered into the heart of God. Let's bring this home. How do we follow the path of Ahaz? I mean, most of us aren't kings, and I'm guessing no one here has consulted with a prophet lately. But let me tell you, the story of Ahaz is more than just ancient history; it's a mirror reflecting our own lives.
How many of us have been in crisis mode—maybe not facing invading armies but dealing with mounting bills, strained relationships, mental health battles, or soul-crushing loneliness? And in those moments, God, often through His Word or His people, speaks into our lives saying, "Do not fear, I am with you." But do we listen?
We're quick to assume that God can’t really handle our mess, aren't we? We think, "If I just work a little harder, if I just keep my head down, I'll navigate through this on my own." And all the while, God is offering us his hand, an assurance that He is involved in our chaos, ready to intervene. He's essentially telling us, "Put me to the test. Lean on me. Have faith."
Like Ahaz, we sometimes hide behind false piety or independence. We politely decline God's offer for divine intervention because it feels risky, or because we're afraid of what surrender really means. But here's what we're missing: God's promises are the anchor we can tie our souls to. His Word isn't an empty guarantee; it's an invitation to experience the extraordinary in the midst of our ordinary lives.
Remember Isaiah’s hard truth? "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all." That’s not just an Old Testament zinger; it’s a universal truth. Our stability, our confidence, our very foundation—it all hinges on faith. Not a timid, watered-down faith, but a faith that grabs hold of God’s promises and refuses to let go, even when the ground beneath us quakes.
And let’s not miss the ultimate sign God gives us—Immanuel. Christ came as God with us, and He remains God with us. He took on flesh, walked among us, felt our pain, took on our sin, and conquered the grave. That's the sign, the assurance we have that God is not distant or indifferent but intimately involved in the fabric of our lives.
So, as we face our fears, our trials, and our crises, let’s remember this: we don’t have to be an Ahaz. We have the opportunity, right here and now, to be a people firm in faith, anchored in Christ, and utterly amazed at the graciousness of a God who says, "I am with you, always."
Conclusion: Standing Firm in the Promises of God
We've journeyed through the life of Ahaz today, a king caught in a crisis, offered a lifeline but too fearful to grasp it. We've examined our own hearts, our own crisis moments, and seen how often we mimic Ahaz's hesitation. But now, as we close, let's fix our eyes on the transformative power of God's promises.
In Isaiah's day, the sign was a child named Immanuel, a promise that God was with His people even when they weren’t with Him. For us, that promise has been gloriously fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Because of Christ, we're not merely offered a sign; we're given a Savior. The God who extended grace to Ahaz extends even greater grace to us through His Son. That's a promise you can bank your life on.
So, how can we be firm in faith? By daily reminding ourselves of God's promises and by choosing to live in light of them. When fear knocks on the door of your heart, answer it with the promises of God. When doubt tries to creep into your mind, barricade it with the assurance of Christ's sacrifice and victory. Remember, your faith isn't built on what you can do but on what Christ has already done.
As we step into the world outside these walls, let's be a people who are not just hearers of the Word but doers. Let’s be firm in faith, not because we have it all figured out, but because we serve a God who does. And let's move from this place, not just amazed by God's graciousness but living in it, sharing it, and demonstrating a faith that declares, "Our God is with us.”