CALM IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM
“If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established” (Isaiah 7:9b).
We are accustomed to seek God for issues that matter to us. We care about ourselves, our family, our church, our friends, our coworkers and our classmates. On some occasions we might care about what happens to our country. If our way of life is disrupted, we might get upset.
God Does Care
Does God care about what goes on in the world He created? Does God care about MY world and YOUR world?
In 735 BC the nation of Israel was split into two unequal kingdoms. The northern kingdom (Ephraim, also called Israel) was larger, having ten tribes The southern kingdom (Judah) was much smaller with only two tribes.
Isaiah was God’s messenger whom God chose to help Judah focus on Him as their provider. His title was prophet. We might think of Isaiah as a chaplain or pastor. He frequently reminded these two tribes about God’s deep and abiding love for them. He also gave them sharp rebukes with compassion when the people and their leaders forgot about God.
Turmoil Today
Just as there is a lot of turmoil around the modern day nation of Israel, so there was civil unrest in the area back then also. In Isaiah 7 the area was experiencing blessed peace for the moment.
Fear in the Storm
Then Ahaz the king of Judah heard Israel was preparing to invade the capital of Judah, Jerusalem. Worse still, Syria was supplying Israel with additional troops (v. 1). The fear this imminent threat generated was like a tornado in the hearts of the king and his people. As trees bend in high wind, so the people and their king were moved with fear (v. 2).
At this point God rang the doorbell in Isaiah’s heart. God had a message for Judah, and He gave Isaiah GPS directions on where to find King Ahaz (v. 3).
God Controls
First, the king was to “take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted” (v. 4). Second, the enemies’ plan “shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass” (v. 7).
Despite their tremendous military advantage, Israel and Syria “could not prevail against” Judah on this occasion (v. 1). The explanation: God blocked the success of the enemy.
God offers Hope
When our personal lives are in turmoil, or our nation is under attack from internal or external enemies, God offers us hope.
David said in Psalm 27:13-14, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
By this means we will be established on God’s firm and unshakable foundation despite the storms that rage around us. May we back away from our problems today and trust in God. We can always be assured His plan is better than any plan of ours.
Shirley Logsdon
https://youtu.be/0YUGwUgBvTU Praise You in the Storm Casting Crowns
