~Darene Cole
“It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass… If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” Isaiah 7:7, 9
In the middle of a national crisis, surrounded by threatening enemies, King Ahaz receives an extraordinary promise from God, the promise of Immanuel, “God with us” in Isaiah 7:14. It is the first time this name appears in Scripture, a powerful declaration of God’s presence and deliverance. Yet, even in the face of such a profound promise, Ahaz chooses fear over faith.
God assures him that the plans of his enemies will fail. But alongside that assurance comes a deeper truth: “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established” (NKJV). God was not only concerned about rescuing Ahaz from his circumstances but also about establishing Ahaz’s heart.
Instead of trusting God, Ahaz takes matters into his own hands. He forms an alliance with the king of Assyria, relying on human strength rather than divine help. As recorded in 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28, this decision leads him further into compromise, he takes silver and gold from the temple of the Lord and even introduces a foreign altar into God’s house. What began as fear in a difficult moment ended in a greater spiritual drift. How often do we do the same? When faced with uncertainty, we may be tempted to find quick, practical solutions instead of waiting on God. But in doing so, we may miss not only His intervention, but also the deeper work He desires to do within us.
This brings to mind the story of Esau and Jacob. God had already declared that the older would serve the younger. Yet Rebekah and Jacob intervened, trying to fulfill God’s promise through human effort. Imagine the testimony we might have seen if they had simply trusted God to bring it to pass in His own way!
Lord, help me to remain firm in faith, especially when life feels uncertain. Teach me to trust in Your promises without striving to fulfill them in my own strength. Guard my heart from fear and compromise, and establish me deeply in You. Amen.