Isaiah 7 draws us into a moment of real fear in the life of God’s people. Judah faced a crisis as Syria and Israel formed an alliance against them, and King Ahaz’s heart trembled “like the trees of the forest shake before the wind.” Yet standing behind this political threat was something far greater—the unwavering promise God had made to the house of David. Though Ahaz panicked, God had already declared that no enemy would overturn His covenant. Instead of trusting the Lord’s faithfulness, Ahaz reached for the world’s protection, appealing to Assyria for help. In doing so, he placed his hope in the very nation that would later bring Judah to its knees.

Into this fear-filled moment, God sent Isaiah—along with his son whose name meant “a remnant shall return”—to confront Ahaz with a call to trust. God knew every detail of the enemy’s plans and assured Ahaz that they “shall not stand.” What Ahaz saw as overwhelming, God saw as nothing more than “two smoldering stumps.” The Lord’s command was simple: “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” It was a call to see life from God’s vantage point rather than the narrow, anxious view of human sight. Faith, Isaiah reminds us, is not passive. It is the daily, active posture of resting in the God who keeps His promises.