Giving into Fear(King Ahaz)

Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to make war; and they besieged Ahaz but could not overcome him. At that time Rezin king of Syria captured Elath for Syria, and drove the men of Judah from Elath. Then the Edomites(Israel) went to Elath, and dwell there to this day.

2 Kings 16:5-6

Assyria became a major power under Tiglath Pileser III and couldn't

be ignored, So Pekah king of Israel formed an alliance with Syria.

Now they demanded that Judah join their cause, their war against

Assyria. But King Ahaz of Judah declined, and in doing so caused

Israel and Syria to attack Judah and take the city of Elath.

Ahaz was trying to avoid war, hence his refusal to join with Israel/Syria

in their call against Assyria. However because he refused to join them

they came up against Ahaz and Judah.

The prophet Isaiah told Ahaz not to fear,to rely on God

and say to him: 'Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah.

Isaiah 7:4

However Ahaz gave into fear and instead of relying on God almighty..

he took matters into his own hands. Ahaz made a treaty with Assyria

(paid them to) and asked them to attack Israel, to which they gladly did..

(Fact is they were going to anyways so why not take money from Judah too)

So we see Ahaz trusted in MEN to save him and not GOD! O how often

we rely on people and things to save us and or get us out of trouble

rather then GOD. How often people ignore God, people, like Ahaz,

who claim to worship God but when STRIFE when TROUBLE

when SIN and FEAR come into play… how often we ignore God.

Fear of anything else except the LORD GOD almighty is a stumbling block for the weak, what FEAR I ask you, again besides the FEAR of the LoRD, should you have? If He is with us, who can be AGAINST us?

You don't prove your faith when everything is going right,

You prove it when everything's going all wrong!

Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:13-14

In Isaiah 7:1-10:4 Isaiah rebukes king Ahaz of Judah for not putting his faith in God, and tells of the destruction of Damascus and fall of Ephraim(Israel) under Assyrian power. However Isaiah also offers Judah it's ultimate hope (IS. 7:14) "Immanuel" meaning- "God is with us."

The foretold prophecy of the virgin birth of immanuel himself Christ Jesus(Matt. 1:23)

The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your FEAR, and let Him be your dread. (IS.8:13)

Ahaz was a fool instead of trusting in God He trusted in man(assyria)

to save him. Not only did Ahaz pay tribute but he built temple modifications that were Assyrian inspired(2 Kings 16:10-18)

Ahaz refused to listen to God who spoke through Isaiah, he gave into FEAR of the moment. Do not let worry and FEAR destroy your walk,

do not squelch the still small voice of God inside you.

If you refuse to listen, refuse to follow His word, His voice…

then just who are you following? think about it…

Follow the one from which salvation comes, and no other!