Shaking Like a Tree in the Wind
July 12, 2009 
“Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” Isaiah 7:2
This is a little story of worry and fear. It is a story of worry over something that would never happen. King Ahaz of Judah is informed of the pending attacks of the kings of Israel and Syria. Immediately his first reaction was to be utterly shaken with fear, he and his people.
“Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. Say to him, `Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood–because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.” Isaiah 7:3-5
I can picture Ahaz pacing with fear at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool wondering, what should I do, thinking, this is going to turn out badly for me and my people, it is all hopeless. I know because I have been in his shoes too, not of course in this kind of situation, but my own places of fear and worry. But God begins to intervene. He asks Isaiah to go to the king and tell him to stop worrying, do not lose heart, do not be afraid. Did God see something different coming in this story than Ahaz?
“Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “`It will not take place, it will not happen…” Isaiah 7:5-7
The Lord saw a different outcome…King Ahaz saw failure and fear…God saw two smoldering stubs of firewood…King Ahaz saw two impossible foes…The Lord saw that this would never happen. How many times have I looked at a difficult situation and thought the worst? Countless times. Why did Ahaz not look to the Lord and ask for help and for guidance. Why did he not ask, Lord what do you see in this? Why did he not trust the Lord? I have to ask myself these same questions. Where is my trust?
What is striking to me in this story is that God intervenes through Isaiah. If we will look for it, God is intervening in our own stories. It may be through the comfort of the Holy Spirit, through words from a friend or a pastor or a trusted spiritual director. So what should we do when these things come upon us?
“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Isaiah 7:9b
The NLT version states it this way, “Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm”. Here it is, the point of it all. Our faith must be in the Lord no matter what difficult thing we face. And if it is, He will make us stand firm whether the thing we fear happens or not. Whether in Ahaz’s case the kings of Israel and Syria attack and destroy or whether it never, ever happens. If we trust the Lord, He will make us strong.
Blessings, Scott for Wellspring, © Copyright 2009
“Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage, yes, wait for the Lord.” Ps. 27:14
