Read
2 Kings 15:32-38
Micah 1:1-16
2 Kings 16:1-9
2 Chronicles 28:1-15
Isaiah 7:1-25
Isaiah 7:2, “The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “‘Syria is allied with Israel against us!’ So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.”
Isaiah 7:7,9, “But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘This invasion will never happen; it will never take place.’ If you do not stand firm in your faith, I cannot make you stand firm.”
Think
Imagine sitting by a dock on the ocean in an untethered lifeboat, basking in the sun. Suddenly, you look up and realize that you’ve drifted far from shore. You trusted the craft to remain stationary, but there you are, moving farther and farther out. So, you put your faith in the wind to carry you back to shore — but the winds change. Then you hope that the ocean waves will carry you back to the dock — but a storm hits, and you’re now lost without any land in sight. Had you chosen to anchor the raft, to tie yourself to a reliable source that’s proven trustworthy, you would not be in such a predicament and fearful of being lost at sea.
In today’s reading, the Judean king, Ahaz, was overcome by fear over the news of a dual-nation attack. God sent Isaiah to tell him to “stand firm in faith” because it wouldn’t happen. He chose not to. Instead, he trusted in the “winds and waves” of idolatry, making sacrifices to false gods and many other evil practices. Although the enemy’s plan was thwarted as God promised, Judah endured many other attacks under his reign, and its citizens suffered greatly.
Detrimental consequences come with poor decisions. So, don’t drift on the seas of relativity or immorality. Instead, tether yourself to the ultimate Anchor, Jesus Christ, and stand firm with faith in His almighty power. No matter what life throws at you, trust that God will see you through as He pulls you into the safe harbor of His loving arms!
Pray
Lord, Thank You for being the Ultimate Anchor. Give me the power to stand firm in my faith, no matter the circumstances. See me through each trial and deliver me. Amen.
