Fear Must Go

Recently I was reading in the book of Isaiah in the Bible, and feel that God showed me a powerful word that needs to be shared with many.
For a little background information we can read about King Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28:1-4. Ahaz became king at age 20 and reigned 16 years. He did not do right in the sight of the Lord, pretty much by playing the harlot with other gods. Needless to say, he was none too intent on seeking after God's heart, as was said of King David.
There were consequences to this idolatry, and the nation of Judah was invaded by Aram and even the northern kingdom of Israel.
Now we go back to Isaiah chapter 7. King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel went up to wage war against Jerusalem. However, verse 1 says they "could not fight against it." Not sure how that looked in real life, but there was still a vast army poised for attack around Jerusalem. When King Ahaz was informed, he and all the people were shaking in their boots. Or sandals, or whatever.
God told Isaiah the prophet to take his son (whose name meant "A remnant shall return") to go meet with Ahaz to give him these words from the Lord:
"Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands...
...thus says the Lord God, 'It shall not stand, nor shall it come to pass... [yet] if you will not believe, you surely shall not last.'"
I looked up some of the key words in their Hebrew meanings.
Take care: to hedge about; i.e. guard; to protect, attend to, to watch, to keep, preserve, be careful, to watch over.
be calm: to repose, be still, be quiet, be undisturbed, state or condition of tranquility
fear: to fear, to respect, to reverence, to be afraid, to be awesome, to be feared, to make afraid, to frighten
believe/ last (same word in Hebrew): to build up or support, to foster as a parent or nurse, to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet, moral to be true or certain, to establish

What God was saying through Isaiah to Ahaz and the people of Judah was that though these two kings were plotting against them, they MUST choose to be unafraid of them. To take care does not seem to indicate going out and fighting against the foe, but to stand guard. Being calm is about having peace and tranquility within because of who God is and what He has said. Having no fear of the invading armies is not elevating them to be worthy of respect or reverence. Not being fainthearted is about exhibiting courage.
God said that Rezin and Pekah would not be successful in what they had in mind. No matter what Ahaz chose to do with this prophecy. But Ahaz's decision would mean everything for his own future and for Judah's. If he did not believe God and choose to put his trust in the Lord, he would not be established.
I was reminded of James's words in the new testament, advising that if anyone asks for wisdom, he must believe and not doubt, or he will be like the surf of the sea driven and tossed about by the wind. And also in 1 Kings 18:41-44 we can read that the Lord told Elijah it was going to rain (after 3 years of drought), and he sent his servant out SEVEN times to look for any sign of even a cloud on the horizon. Even after six reports of no evidence of rain, Elijah KNEW what God had said, and did not consider another possibility!

To those who have ears, let them hear: Get TRUTH (Truth comes from God). Do not consider any other possibility!

Sadly, Ahaz chose to put his faith in the King of Assyria rather than God, which resulted in eventual destruction (although a remnant was preserved). In Isaiah 8:6-8, God spoke to Isaiah concerning this saying,
"Inasmuch as these people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah...Now therefore behold, the Lord is about to bring on them the strong and abundant waters of the Euphrates, even the king of Assyria and all his glory; And it will rise up over all its channels and go over all its banks. Then it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass through, it will reach up even to the neck; and the spread of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel."

What I saw in this passage is that God offers His children peace. Security, even in the midst of the storms of life. Gently flowing waters are peaceful. We can accept this offering or reject it. But if we reject it, the waters that come our way will be anything but peaceful. They are strong and abundant...raging floodwaters. If we are tenacious we will be part of the remnant that survives, but it will not happen without a fight.
Fear is epidemic in our world today. But a heart filled with fear of any circumstance will not carry us through the storms to come. If you are not in the midst of a storm right now, choose today where your respect and reverence will be directed. If you are in the storm right now, it's still not too late to make the choice. Ahaz was up to his neck in foes. He hadn't even been living a life that honored God. Yet God's heart was breaking for his broken children even in their rejection of Him, and He was offering them a way out. Maybe it's time to let go of your fear, and accept the peaceful, gently flowing waters of Shiloah.

"Be still (cease striving), and know that I am God." (Ps 46:10)
"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O My God. Do not let me be put to shame, or let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame..." (Ps 25:1-3a)