In that time, the king of Aram allied with the king of Israel and went to fight against King Ahaz in Jerusalem. The alliance sparked fear and trembling, yet God gave Isaiah a message to tell King Ahaz: Don't be afraid of them. "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Why do we fear? Is not God in control? Whether we prosper or stumble, our life is in God's hands.

Although Isaiah gives some reassurance from the threat of Israel and Aram, he foretells God's judgment coming from Assyria and Egypt. They will ruin the land and put the people to shame. Those who remain will survive off of curds and honey. Yet God would still be with them.

God promised to give a sign of Immanuel, pointing to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. "A virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Jesus, a baby born in a manger, came to be with all of humanity. We are not alone in our pain and suffering. God is still with us.


Application: Lord, thank you for planting faith in the midst of fear and impending doom. You sent your son Jesus as a baby in a manger to be with us.
One Word: God is with us.