A Firm Place to Stand
This morning Debbie, Stephanie, Mason and Carter took off for Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom. That left Nathan, me and McKenzie to our own devices. So we traveled to a well known sandwich place here in Orlando that has been in business since 1968 and sampled their historic roast beef sandwich.
I am feeling strong today which I am thankful for and had a couple of swimming workouts. We have access to several pools and even a miniature golf course right across the parking lot. It does look like it is clouding over a little this afternoon, but haven’t seen any rain yet.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’” Isaiah 7:9
King Ahaz was ruling over Judah at a time when they did not deserve to have God help them in time of crisis. We see that Syria was attacking Jerusalem and were being restrained. So Syria joined alliance with the King of Israel to attack Jerusalem. When Ahaz and the people heard this the Bible says, “…the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.” (Isaiah 7:2) So they were a little more than frightened at the prospects before them.
The Lord sends Isaiah to King Ahaz with a message of encouragement to strengthen him and the people. As the message of the prophet comes to an end the call to be “firm in faith…” serves as the punctuation mark and call to action for the people.
The opposition was still great. The obstacles were still formidable. Yet the Lord had given His word and if King Ahaz and people stood firm in that word and placed their faith in the Lord, they would find a firm place to stand in the face of overwhelming odds. The emphasis reminds us that there is no foundation which provides greater security than faith in the Lord.
The reality is faith must have an object. King Ahaz could have placed faith in his vast army if he had one. He could have put faith in his armament, horses and chariots if they existed in large enough numbers but they didn’t. He could have looked to making alliances with other nations if he had time and resources but he didn’t. All he had was what was available along with the promise of the Lord that the Lord would fight for him.
Yet the Lord was willing to accommodate King Ahaz by providing a sign to prove the Lord’s trustworthiness. But King Ahaz was reluctant. The prophet’s responded, “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 7:14)
God proves His promise with the sign of Immanuel, “God with us.” “And if God be for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
When you stand firm in faith in God’s word and God’s presence you will always have a firm place to stand.