The lieutenant for the Soviet Union Air Defense Forces was working an overnight shift in September 1983, when his computer showed that five U.S. missiles were heading toward his country. He could have immediately reported the missiles, which likely would have resulted in all-out nuclear war, but he didn’t. Something wasn’t right; why would the Americans only send five missiles? He checked the computer and confirmed it was a malfunction. It is still considered the closest instances of nuclear exchange and it was prevented by a single man making a moment decision.
When the world is pressing in on us, the temptation is to act. To take things into our own hands. To trust our own power. To go our own way. And when God asks to wait, it takes a tremendous amount of trust to believe that He will come through despite how the circumstances may look. It forces us to our knees as we hold onto the promises held forth in the gospel in the preaching, in baptism and the supper.
We are in the advent season. This is a season of waiting… as we anticipate the arrival of our coming king. And waiting is not something we like to do… is it? Because truly to wait, means that you cannot do anything to save yourself.
The Question: God or Human effort?
So, we find ourselves in the year 733BC. Syria, which was empire, was in decline, and Assyria was rising. In Judah there is a king of the house of David on the throne called Ahaz, who is as scared as a mouse in a cat’s house.
And rightfully so from the world’s point of view. If God is not real, there was not much hope. It’s over. And Ahaz knows it, he is shaking like a tree in a hurricane. Trying every human way to make sure he stays alive. He is out checking the water systems every day, making sure the walls are sturdy.
But its heartbreaking – because this is a king who ought to know better. Here was a king of the house of David, shaking like tree in a hurricane! This was the David who sang, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you (Psalm 56:3).” Not Ahaz – he does not want to trust in the weakness of faith, but in the strength of his own might and wisdom! Sometimes the people of God trust think that the ways and means of the world are more real than God. Walls, and money, and stuff helps us real life. God can be kept for Sunday feel good.
Works righteousness is more reliable than Faith. If its by faith its all by grace. If its by works we can fo something.
Ahaz knew God was there, but he was not REAL. At least not as real as swords, and spears, and walls, and water. And he is afraid. Of what? Of “two smoldering stumps of firebrands (v. 4).” Like the ends of a cigarette that still smolders. All you do is step on it. He is afraid of nothing. He does exactly what the Assyria and Israel want him to do – be terrified. As we read in 7:6 their plan was to go up against Judah to “terrify it and conquer it for themselves.”
You see what unbelief does beloved – You see what depending on your works does? You can do everything to save yourself, but at the end of your life you still need to wonder – was it enough!?
God wants all our life, not just Sundays, to be based on a profound and deep union and dependence on him through faith on the promises! That when faced with crisis whether big of small we don’t first go to google, or money, or planning, we don’t lie, or cheat, or weasel our way out, but we lay it before God as the God of who has covenanted himself with us, until we have peace, until we have rest! Then we get up and go about our business. And what rich promises Ahaz had! Abraham, Moses David, the prophets up to this time are FULL of promises, which he just needed to believe.
While he is checking out his infrastructure there comes the prophet of God sent by God, with that son of his whose name means a remnant will return. I am sure he could see him coming, standing there on “at the end of the conduit of the upper pool (7:3). God was coming to Ahaz in and through the prophet Isaiah. Would he listen?
“Be careful (7:4).” Think about what you are about to do! The people that pray, and think before responding stand out. Don’t do what you normally do. Don’t do anything stupid that you will regret when all is said and done. “Be quiet. (7:4)” Let God speak for once, and you hold your mouth, and listen to what I say. Do not be afraid (7:4). You are shaking in fear for nothing. I never made my covenant with these kings – I made them with you. If you would only believe it!
It’s really great advice for the church and for you today, isn’t it? Be careful. Don’t be hasty. We can be so impulsive. Something needs to happen, and it needs to happen NOW! No, it doesn’t. If God is sovereign, and he is our covenant God we can take our time – and be careful. Be quiet. Sometimes we are so excited about hearing our voice, that we forget to listen and hear the voice of God.
The noise of our life drowns out the word of God. Make yourself still before the Lord. And the command is “do not be afraid.” Did you know this is one of the most often repeated commands in scripture! Why? Because we get afraid so easily. And what we fear we are enslaved to.
Our faith is so insecure, and weak. Why? Because we can’t save ourselves and we know it. Faith in God is our only hope. And if that is not there, we are going to be tossed around by every disaster that comes!
And then he ends with “If you are not firm in faith you will not be firm at all.” This is one of the most powerful statements of Faith in the OT. It is a beautiful play on words in the Hebrew. Kind of like “Trust or bust!” God asks, “will you trust me with your life. Completely Wholly. With an undivided heart!” You see the enemies of Gods people are always too big for Gods people. They need GOD. Only God can save us from certain death. Only God can save us from our deepest fears and insecurities.
Faith alone in Christ alone is what we confess. Faith becomes real the bigger the object of the faith is. For Ahaz God was small, so human effort became more important
And it’s not like God says to his people, take it or leave it! The covenant GOD the LORD comes to Isaiah, and says, “Ask for a sign!” Now when God comes to you, the best thing to do is obey, and not say no thank you.
But that is what Ahaz does in the most pious hypocritical way possible! Why? Because he wanted to trust in his own devices, he wanted to work out his own salvation, he did not want God to get the glory. Grace alone was a sign of weakness. You see – faith alone means that God alone gets the glory! What would you do?
Ahaz in the moment of decision rejects the promises of God! And because of that he plunges his generation into judgement. God or human effort. One leads to salvation, the other always leads to death.
Ahaz may have had every political skill, logic, diplomatic experience – all ‘the facts of the real world’ – but when the people of God operate by “what stands to reason” rather then “what proceeds from faith” when they seek safety in the resources policies, and powers of the world, the king of Assyria instead of the LORD almighty – then the things that they trust in guarantees destruction.
The result of Human effort…Judgement
God does give a sign! A baby – a baby that would not be a sign of salvation but judgement!
We read of it in verse 14, “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel.” You want to trust in strength and might and power, Ahaz? Then I will give a little baby to be a sign to you that these two kingdoms that you fear will be gone. God works not through human strength – but weakness beloved. This divine child would be born into poverty. When we are helpless – he is our fortress. That is what this season is about… A baby was born who was to die on a cross! That is how God brought the victory.
Now there is debate about who this baby is. We know that this refers ultimately to Jesus, but in this passage. He was born into poverty, heir to a meaningless throne in a conquered land – and he would feel the full weight of the oppressor. But this son in time of Ahaz also refers to the son God gives to Isaiah. We read in chapter 8 that Isiaah receives a son called Maher-shalal-hash-baz, which means the spoil speed the prey hastens. Look at how chapter 8:4, echoes chapter 7:16. Because before this child grows these kings will be GONE with the wind. Like chaff which the wind blows away. The land will be empty.
For God was calling the Assyrians. The Assyrian empire was Gods razor 7:20 “In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired beyond the River – with the king of Assyria – the head and the hair of the feet, and it will sweep away the beard also (7:20).” In the Bible, To be made clean the unclean person had to shave himself and wash himself. And it looks like God is doing this to his people to refine them and purify a remnant for himself. He is shaving the land of all wickedness. He is cutting down the tree so only the stump is left. Israel would be stripped (7:20), leaving only poverty and decay (7:21-22).
The Assyrian empire was also Gods flood of judgement since they rejected his water of salvation (8:5-8). Here they come like a flood from the great river Euphrates, leaving a path of destruction – all he way to the neck of Judah (8:8)! If you have ever seen the desctruction aflood leaves, you get some idea of the way they Assyrians did war. Since they rejected the protection of God, he would destroy all they trusted in for protection.
This would be a flood that would leave only a remnant.
O Emmanuel. For all this beloved – points us forward to the need for a savior. God would judge, but he would leave a stump. From that little piece of land would come another baby – a baby who would be a sign of salvation. His name would mean Savior – Jesus!
You see in the face of certain disaster it is so difficult for us to really lean on the power of our God – rather than take things in their own hands. But it was Jesus who when confronted with the worst of judgment, and certain death, trusted in his Father. He did what Ahaz, and no king could do. He did what Israel could not do. He did what we could not do. Trust the LORD perfectly.
And yet he was cut down. The flood waters would not spare him but would wash over him completely. He would be stripped, and humiliation, he would come as no one. But his faith would be steady. He would persevere despite how things looked. He would trust in the God of the covenant too the end. So that in him – we might drink from the waters of salvation.
. You see he trusted perfectly for you! You and I deserve the destruction. And yet – we don’t Get it, because Jesus stood in the way, and took the wrath not of the Assyrian king but far greater more unbeatable foes in Satan, the world, and our flesh. And ultimately just as Assyrian was God wrath on sin, so he bore the full wrath of God.
Here is the central point of this whole section: If you are not firm in faith you are not firm at all. But unless you truly know and believe that God is real and is for you won’t stand firm. Now I ask you, “do you have that faith? Not unless you look at the cross. There you see a God that is for you!
O that you would trust him in this season. Wait upon him in your life. Though tears last for a night, joy comes in the morning! He is coming. Christmas is Coming. The king is returning.
So let me ask you. How is your faith? Are you living in fear and anxiety? Are you living in stress, and worry? Then find out what is causing that fear! What is causing that anxiety? What is causing that stress and worry? Maybe its because you have not seen him. You are not so sure he is real. So, you take things in your hands. But how is that working out? You are getting older, crisis after crisis comes. And you can’t fix it. What could Ahaz do? Nothing. But trust,
You see we won’t and can’t be released from our fears until someone comes to release us. Until someone comes to take away the fear of the really big enemies we face, death. Satan. Sin.
Jesus trusted in His father in the face of the greatest enemies. He took away from us the things that we so fear. Not through power – but weakness. No through protest, but persecution. Not through taking Caesars throne, but by hanging on a wooden cross.
Fear paralyzes you. It makes you do things that you would not normally do. It brings anxiety. This can be true in church. We suddenly turn to worldly means to win the world. We forget to trust the power of Gods word and promises. We make an alliance with the world using their means for our ends. It does not work. It will fail.
Whether it is relationship problems, or financial problems, mental, or spiritual attack. Where do we go first? Where do we go before anywhere else? The promises? Faith in Jesus. This is more than just growing in your quiet times. This is about asking yourself, what are you trusting in the crisis in your life right now? You, the world, or the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who says, do not be afraid – I am with you.
O come o come Emmanuel!
Amen