How Dare He! (Isaiah 7)

     I’ve read Judges, Kings and Chronicles more than once, so it takes a lot to shock me.  But King Ahaz shocked me! He was outlandish, audacious, brazen. There are many other adjectives that I could apply to him, but instead I’m just going to list some of his ‘accomplishments.’ (from 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28)

·         Did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord
·         Made his son pass through the fire (abominations of the nations)
·         Sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, hills, under every green tree
·         Asked king of Assyria for help
·         Took silver and gold from the house of the Lord and sent to king
·         Sent plan of Damascus altar to his priest and instructed him to build it
·         Offered his burnt offering, meal, drink and peace offerings on this new pagan altar
·         Moved the Lord’s bronze altar to another side of his altar
·         Instructed priests to use his new altar for all sacrifices
·         Used the Lord’s altar as his private altar
·         Cut apart the temple utensils (those made to the Lord’s specific instructions)
·         Made molten images for the Baals
·         Was very unfaithful to the Lord
·         In distress became more unfaithful to the Lord
·         Sacrificed to the gods of Damascus
·         Closed the doors of the house of the Lord
·         Made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem
·         Made high places in every city to burn incense to other gods

God extended an opportunity of repentance and restoration even to the affront that was King Ahaz.  He sent Isaiah with specific words for Ahaz and with the singular offer to ask for a sign.  Not many in scripture are given permission by God to ask for a sign.  But Ahaz rebuffed God’s offer, he remained in his unfaithfulness, he refused to repent and return.  Ultimately, he rejected the Lord as his God.

God ALWAYS desires restoration of His people.  He ALWAYS has an offer.  But He stops short of forcing people’s hands, of forcing obedience, of forcing repentance.  I’m currently praying for several people I wish God would push to repentance, but as I pray I see a picture of the Lord extending His hand to them ready to grasp and pull them up.  But they have to reach out.  They always have a choice.

The good news: no one, not even Ahaz, is beyond the care and compassion of the Lord.   He always pursues. He always offers redemption.