Two Kings went up to Jerusalem and laid siege to the city. The people were frightened but God said to Isaiah “Go out now to meet (King) Ahaz, and say to him, take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs … it shall not stand nor shall it come to pass.”
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Of course, within 65 years Ephraim was be shattered…no longer even an identifiable tribe. God was right. But, He told Ahaz “If you will not believe, you surely shall not last”. In other words…”you’re going to have to trust me on this one”.
We call it “trust but verify”. God said “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as hell or high as heaven.” Any, sign, the bigger the better. All to prove Ephraim WILL NOT PREVAIL!
But Ahaz wouldn’t ask for a sign. I’m not sure why, except he said “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” This is silly since God has just challenged him…”ask for a sign!” I wonder if Ahaz contemplated saying “God…I need you to come here and sort this out”. And then, his sense got the better of him. He wasn’t confident enough to ask for something as “high as heaven.” even when God gave him a huge hint.
This was obviously a bigger deal for God than it was for Ahaz so God came right out with it. “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” This is amazing. God just promised His Son…Jesus. Giving Ahaz exactly what he should have asked for if he was brash enough.
Some things are better, left to God.
But still, it cost something. Ahaz could have said “I need it now” and God would have showed up on his doorstep. Instead, his lack of faith led to dire consequences. Judah would suffer for its leader’s hesitation. They would have to wait…
How often are we waiting for the miracle we desperately need…because we are simply too timid to ask for it?
Live boldly out there today…
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