Carrubbers' Blog

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Isaiah 7-8: In The Storms Of Life "God Is With Us"

On Sunday we watched as King Ahaz made the colossal error of placing his faith in "Assyria is with us," (7:1-13; 2 Kings 16:7-8) rather than in "God is with us" (7:14-25).  He did not heed Isaiah's messages of reassurance: "don't fear Israel-Syria's threats," (8:1-4) and of warning: "don't trust Assyria's promises" (8:5-10).  In application we considered how each of us is faced with the same choice when the going gets tough: will we seek rescue and refuge in human plans or in divine promises?  Christian cousellor Paul Tripp writes:
“In the middle of trouble, when you are in the heart of the battle, you will run somewhere for refuge.  You will run somewhere for rest, comfort, peace, encouragement, wisdom, healing and strength.  Perhaps in trouble you run to other people, hoping they can be your personal messiah.  Perhaps you run to entertainment, hoping to numb your troubles away.  Maybe you run to a substance hoping trying your best to turn off the pain.  Maybe you are tempted to run to food or sex, fighting pain with pleasure.  Since none of these things can provide the refuge that you seek, putting your hope there tends only to add disappointment to the trouble you’re already experiencing”.
We all want to find a safe place where we can find an escape from the storms and stresses of life - but so often we are seduced into seeking refuge in things that are not God and that cannot truly satisfy - that betray us, just as Assyria betrayed Judah.  But it didn't need to be this way: "O what peace did Ahaz forfeit, O what needless pain did Judah bear, all because they did not carry all their fears to the LORD in prayer".

Nevertheless, I love how the story ends 34 years later in 701BC.  As prophesied, a new Assyrian king, Sennacherib, has invaded Judah and beseiged Jerusalem.  Ahaz's son, Hezekiah, is on the throne.  Once again the nation is gripped in fear and terror.  But this time, at the same place where his father rejected the word and sign of the LORD, Hezekiah received God's promise and trusted Him.  When a letter demanding 'unconditional surrender' was delivered to Hezekiah we read what he did next:
"Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.  And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, entrhoned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth... O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD" (Isaiah 37:14-20). 
That's a wonderful example in prayer for us to follow - for the God of Hezekiah is still our God today!  Our song, amid the strains and strife of life can be: "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer".

Pray Today:

  • For the nations of the earth to learn about Jesus (God Saves; Immanuel: "God With Us") as they visit Edinburgh in the next few weeks.  Pray for all the efforts of "There Is Hope" in the evenings to engage with people on the street, invite them into the building, listen to the music, and hear the good news about the hope we have in Christ!
  • For the ministry to children taking place at the Buckstone Holiday Club and Word Alive Puppets Show each day this week.  For them to hear, understand and long to find out more about Jesus.
  • For those in your circle of our church family who you know are heavy laiden and burdened in life - pray for them to know the reality of "God is with us"

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