Tuesday, May 19 2020 Devotional
"If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all."
Isaiah 7:9
This word came through the Prophet Isaiah to Ahaz, the king of Judah, who had just received word that the Syrians, who had always hated them, had made an alliance with Israel - their own brothers, the apostate other half of the chosen people of God - to destroy them. This was a totally unexpected disaster for which the people of Judah were completely unprepared.
Ahaz had turned his back on God and led his people into sin. But like any military leader, Ahaz certainly had all kinds of “what-if” plans in place. This one was a worst-case scenario, one so unthinkable that the “what-if” contingency plans hadn’t even been created.
We try to plan wisely for the future, too, but unexpected events come to us. Sometimes we are blind-sided and left wondering, “Where did that come from?”
That’s when this reminder from God is most important. Our stability doesn’t come from being prepared for the unexpected. That isn’t really possible. The unexpected is... well, unexpected. At the end, our stability In life is in trusting God; in being firm in faith.
God was calling Ahaz personally to return and trust in Him. The story ends with God giving one of His greatest promises ever, as a “sign” to Ahaz that God always keeps His promises, “Behold, a virgin will conceive and bear a Son...”
The Lord meets you and me, too, in those “worst-case scenario“ moments, gently calling us to trust Him, to remember that whatever happens, He keeps His promises.
Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith; firm it up. I know You are on this; help me trust You. Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles