For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

Isaiah 7:8-9

Explanation:
Today’s text continues a poetic statement that Isaiah started in verse 7. He is speaking to Ahaz, King of Judah, the words of God Himself. He has already told Ahaz of the plot of the kings of Syria and Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel) to overthrow Judah and Jerusalem in verses 1-6. He had also assured Ahaz that their plot would not come to pass. God was intervening both by telling him what was happening and what would happen. In this part of the poem (v.8-9) God foretells of the breaking of Ephraim. There would be an exile of those people. Eventually there would also be foreign settlers that come in, all within 65 years.
The end of the statement, in verse 9, is interesting. “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.” God was telling Ahaz that if he were to believe God and act based on what God was telling him then his actions and leadership would be established. He’d make the right decisions moving forward. If he would not believe God, then his decisions would be wrong. Unless Ahaz decided to trust God, he would find himself continuing to lead in fear, without confidence, and from a state of panic.

Application:
It is so important that we trust God. When it comes time to make the right decisions in life we will be panicked, live in fear, and live without confidence if we put our trust in anything less than God Himself. When it is time to make decisions we ought to trust God. What are some ways we can show that we trust God?

1. Consult and Obey His Word. God’s Word speaks directly to so many decisions we must make. It also gives us principles that help us make decisions that may not be as clear.
2. Pray about the decisions we make. When we pray about our decisions we put ourselves in a posture of submission to God. We are opening our minds and hearts to God’s direction for our lives.
3. Ask for wisdom. God’s Word tells us that He desires to give us wisdom. He gives it out liberally!
   James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5

When we seek God’s will through His Word, seek God’s will through prayer, and seek God’s will through wisdom, we are showing that we trust God. When we do trust God our way is established.
God is working. We must trust His plan.

Response:
Would you say that you are trusting God right now?