Second Thursday of Advent

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 7 :1-9

Key Verse: And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not dear and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.’ ~Isaiah 7:4

Isaiah 7 begins by presenting a situation that you may be able to relate to. The King, Ahaz, finds himself threatened with war from multiple adversaries. He is so afraid that “that heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind” (Isa 7:2). Certainly we have found ourselves in similar situations. In the midst of this fear and uncertainty Isaiah comes to Ahaz with a message from God. The basic thrust of the message is: Don’t be afraid Ahaz! Be quiet and wait, don’t do anything foolish. Trust God (paraphrasing Isa 7:4). Isaiah concludes the message by saying “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” (Isa 7:9). It can be very easy to lost faith in God’s ability to care for us or to trust his sovereignty in a situation. When this happens we almost immediately try to take things into our own hands and say t ourselves “I can handle it.” But we can’t handle it. We cannot be our own Savior. This Advent we are reminded that because we could not save ourselves God took it upon himself to send the Savior, Jesus Christ. We are called to cling to our faith in him, to trust him and not be afraid, even in times of uncertainty and fear. God is on our side.

Reflect: What uncertainties make it difficult to trust God right now in your life? Re-read Isaiah’s message to Ahaz and make it your own.

Father in heaven, in the midst of uncertainty help me to have a certainty in my faith. Help me to trust you in all things at all times and to follow obediently wherever you lead me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

For Further Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Luke 22:1-13 Psalm 41