Bible in 365 Days – Day 174

Focus Chapters:

• 2 Kings 15:32-38
• 2 Chronicles 27
• Micah 1
• 2 Kings 16:1-9
• 2 Chronicles 28:1-15
• Isaiah 7

Standout Verse(s):

Isaiah 7:2-9 NLT

The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel against us!” So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub and go out to meet King Ahaz. You will find him at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed. Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn’t need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah. Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying, ‘We will attack Judah and capture it for ourselves. Then we will install the son of Tabeel as Judah’s king.’ But this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“This invasion will never happen;
it will never take place;
for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus,
and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin.
As for Israel, within sixty-five years
it will be crushed and completely destroyed.
Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria,
and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah.
Unless your faith is firm,
I cannot make you stand firm.”

Observation (s):

1. When the kings and Judah heard that Israel had allied with their enemies, Syria, against them, they were fearful.
   
   

   The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel against us!” So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.

   
   
2. While Judah was busy worrying, God sent a message telling them that He had already taken care of their enemies.
   
   

   Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn’t need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah. “This invasion will never happen;
   it will never take place.

   
   
3. God also asked Judah to stand firm and trust Him but emphasized that only their trust in Him allowed Him to help them stand firm.
   
   

   Unless your faith is firm,
   I cannot make you stand firm.”

Application:

I grew up hearing the saying: “You are planning but God is wiping out.” Why are you worrying about an enemy invasion that will never come to pass? While you sit worrying, God has already taken care of your enemies.

Their enemies, Syria and Israel, seemed mighty to the people of Judah. This seeming mightiness caused Judah to desert their faith in God and shake with fear. They did not know that God had already taken care of the threat that their enemies presented. God’s message, through Isaiah, showed that He had already dealt Syria and Israel a mighty judgement which struck at their center, decapitating them without them even noticing. Their planned invasion would never come to pass because they were “burned-out embers”. God had dosed their flames, the threat they posed.

Your enemies are busy preparing for an invasion that will never come to pass. You are busy worrying about a defeat that God has already taken care of. Why worry when you can stand firm in faith? God can’t make you stand firm, you have to choose to trust Him and stand firm. Trust God and watch as He handles your enemies. Their threatened invasion will never come to pass.