For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 7:16-17

Explanation:
God explains that the sign of this child and his age will indicate His timing for judgement on Syria and Ephraim. He also explains that this judgement will not just be for Ahaz’s enemies. But the judgement will be for Him as well. (Verse 17). Interestingly the thing that Ahaz was trusting in instead of God was the king of Assyria. We know that Ahaz was willing to change the altar (2 Kings 16:10-12) and elements of the temple (2 Kings 16:16-18) to make the king of Assyria happy. He was willing to dishonor God by making appeasement for this pagan king. God tells Ahaz that the king in which he trusted would eventually be what God used to judge the nation for their sins.

Application:
It is often the case that God uses the things that we worship other than him to bring about our own discipline. Sometimes God gives allows the things we worship to devour us. How many people have been consumed by sexual promiscuity, drink, and drugs? What they worship ultimately destroys them. You have heard people say to be careful what you wish for. When we trust in something other than God that can become our undoing.

God can be trusted, and when we trust in something else the consequences can be devastating.

Response:
• What are you trusting in? Are you putting your confidence in God?
• Is there any false idols in your life that are limiting your trust and dependence on God?