Something To Gnaw On :  King Ahaz, Exposed For Who He Is

Welcome to Something To Gnaw On, a parable style devotional designed to give you something mentally and spiritually chew on throughout your day. And I am your host, Nate Vainio.

This is a momentous episode for me.   Just shy of a year ago, I started into this multi layered effort to dig into the old testament in  a way that would both reveal biblical truth, and whet the appetite of the listener to get into it for themselves.  Afterall, the key to this whole thing was the study by the Center For Bible Engagement that highlighted the fact that of all Christian disciplines, personal bible reading is the most effective in regards to living a victorious life while simultaneously being on average the most neglected discipline.   

I have lived the reality of spiritual victory through many disciplines, especially the simplicity of getting into the bible 4 or more times per week.   My desire in doing the Crash Course Through The Old Testament, and the subsequent Scenic Route Thru Isaiah, has been to peel back the curtain of the old testament, a part of the Bible that seem a bit daunting to some, and shed enough light  on it to ignite interest and passion to study it….. to get my listeners to a place where they voluntarily Gnaw on scripture, whether Old Testament or New.

All that being said, This episode is going to wrap up  King Ahaz and  suspend the scenic route through Isaiah.  Early on in this podcast, I was quite successful and intentional about dropping episodes every Friday.  In the last few months, however, my production schedule has become much more challenging…. And erratic.    Moving forward, please be sure to subscribe on your listening platform and follow on Facebook as episodes moving forward will most likely be dropped randomly and this is the best way for you to be notified….. Thank you for your prayers and support, I trust this journey has been a blessing to you…. And if it , in fact, has been… please take the time to like, rate, write a review, and subscribe.

And now, the last episode on the life of King Ahaz:  Exposed for who he is.

I don’t know what your guilty pleasure is when it comes to watching social media videos.  For some it’s watching fail video’s and laughing at the endless stupid things that happen to people, or should I say the consequences that befall people for their stupid actions.  For others it may be the police chase video’s, or the police confrontation video’s.  There are the sport highlight videos, craft video’s, social and political video commentary videos, your favorite personality’s opinion video, and for you spiritual listeners out there – there are the short sermon snippets for your spiritual health, and the list really could go on and on, and be sub-divided multiple times.

One of my personal favorites are the ‘stump the apologist videos’.  If you are unfamiliar with these, this is where a Christian speaker is presenting the Gospel, or a biblical topic like creation,  to a large group of college kids, and then you hit the question and answer point in the meeting.

The Q&A period is filled with punk college kids who seem to be simply repeating the basic talking points of their professors, as if they’re divinely inspired, and they think they are going to  “stump the apologist”.    And it never goes according to plan.

If you are unaware of these video’s, check out Charlie Kirk video’s, he is both political and Christian in his presentations and you will either laugh at the idiocy of some of these students, or you might just cry when the reality of how depraved this segment of society is.  

But I was watching a Christian Apologist by the name of Frank Turek as he was being interviewed the other day.   He does a ton of these video’s and the level of logical reasoning he brings to the presentation of the Gospel, of Creation, of all things biblical really, well… it really amazes me.   I’d say I’m jealous, but that’s not being a good Christian……  I guess I just have to come to the conclusion that its his gift to be quick witted, and highly educated…. And while I can be quick witted,  I’m usually apologizing for the stupid things I say so quickly…. Or editing them out of the podcast.

Anyhow, back to the real point of the matter.   In this interview, Turek was asked what he says to athiest’s  in certain situations.   And his response impressed me.  And it reminded me of how God is dealing with King Ahaz in Isaiah 7.

His response was that he would ask them “If I could prove to you that God exists, would you believe in Him?”   And Turek went on to say that if they respond with a “YES” they continue the conversation.  But more times than not, the Atheist answers with a “NO” which Turek wasted no time.

Generally, Atheists proclaim to be ‘logical’.  To be faced with the proof that God exists and to not believe, revealst an illogical response…. But more than that, it reveals a hardened heart that is hell-bent (no pun intended) on living life on their own terms, they have a hardened heart and it’s wrapped in this pseudo logical world-view that denies God exists as a means to cope with the evidence that He does exist.   In short, despite their intellectual persona (in many cases) they have no intention to pursue TRUTH…. Or submit to it.

The first part of Isaiah 7 is round one, where God reaches out with an absolute gift for Ahaz, and dumps a massive amount of grace and mercy upon an otherwise wicked king.  And while we might be tempted to say that he didn’t deserve it, it highlights God’s tendency to pour His love out on us while we were yet sinners (as Paul would put it later in Romans 5).  It really highlights part of God’s character, His love for mankind,…. Even in our sin.

Round 2 reveals Ahaz’s heart and response when Isaiah goes back in verse 10 thru 13, it reads like this in the Amplified Version:  “Then the Lord spoke again to (KING) Ahaz saying ‘Ask for a sign for yourself from the Lord your God (one that will convince you that God has spoken and will keep His word); make your request as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven.’  But Ahaz said ‘I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!’  Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear then, O house of David!  Is it too small a thing for you to try the patience of men, but will you try the patience of my God as well?”

Can you hear the overconfident ignorance of an indoctrinated college student as he smugly tries to make it look like his refusal of God’s grace should somehow be  morally and spiritually praised.  All the while he has absolutely no intent of bending his knee in submission to God….. which is what this is all about.  But in this case, the consequences are far more dire.

Imagine you are a Jew living in Jerusalem and Hezbollah is continuously threatening your country’s safety.  Then the threats turn into reality, real attacks…. Bombs missiles snipers IED’s raiding parties… and the fighting just gets tougher and tougher.    And pray as you do, God sends his mouth-piece to your King.   And with all the battling going on, all those who have died – and those who will…. Those wounded and those who will be, YOUR KING is extended an opportunity to ask God for anything…. To win the war, to crush the Assyrian Army, to create alliances, to find new water sources, to get the latest Ducati Chariot, to go on the hunting trip of a lifetime…. 

And What does Ahaz do?   He feign’s a wise response and hangs everyone out in the wind because of his self – centered ways.   How self-centered, and prideful, do you have to be to walk away from this moment with God? To walk away from a moment when you could bring peace and stability, life and prosperity to his people… but he refuses to bend his knee.  He understands that this blank-check of an offer comes with strings attached.  

When God answers his request, all excuses for not following Him, for not bending his knee, become moot…. And the expectation is that Ahaz would finally bend his knee… But Ahaz refuses to even utter a request of any kind on behalf of himself or his nation.

This isn’t the first time in scripture that we see this.   In fact, it’s interesting how humanity thinks about the whole thing.    So many of us think that if someone sees something miraculous or divine, that they will change their way.   And they may change their mind, but the changing of the heart is a different story.  

Think of Pharoah.  It took 10 divine acts to change his mind and behavior, and even then he reneged.  In the new testament, Jesus tells us the story about the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man begs for a prophet to be sent to his family and it is denied because they have had many opportunities already to decide for themselves, and the message is that another prophet won’t change their heart.  

The rich young ruler encountered Jesus, and couldn’t bend his knee.   The apostle Paul presented the Gospel to FESTUS and his response is this academically pious idea that ‘you almost persuaded me’, which is probably ‘logic-speak’ for ‘I am not ready to bend my knee, or submit to God and take advantage of the wonderful gift of Salvation”.

Paul highlights this attitude and disposition  in Romans 1:21 thru 24 “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  As a result, their minds became dark and confused.  Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.  And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.  So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired….  “

And then to add to his already debauched lifestyle, and to fulfill the truth outlined by Paul so many years in the future….   Ahaz heads north and brings back to Jerusalem the Gods of King Rezin…. And to highlight the foolishness of this, and to illustrate what Paul is talking about in Romans 1, Ahaz brings back the ‘gods’ of king Rezin’s kingdom…. A kingdom that lost the war.   To a group of people who boast of logic, why would you worship the ‘gods’ that lost the battle for Rezin?   Explain the logic in that!   Wouldn’t you want to expose them for the weak and incompetent ‘gods’ they are?  Wouldn’t it make sense to use the moment give praise to the God who gave you the victory?   

King Ahaz is a sad illustration of one who gives the impression of wisdom, but in reality is an utter fool.

You have heard me mention my friend Luke Taylor from the Cross-References podcast, when I went through Ezekiel we did a 3 part interview as he has been working on a chapter by chapter study through the book.  Anyhow, he has an interesting tag line for his podcast that I want to steal for the last part of the episode.   It goes like this “……….????   How every part of the bible points to the cross and Christ.”

As I wrap up this study on Ahaz, I want to step back and show you a few things that I find absolutely fascinating about this passage.    There are those who refer to the Old Testament as the New Testament concealed, meaning that you can see elements of the New  Testament with in it…. Others would phrase it  this way, that things in the Old Testament are Types and Shadows of what is revealed in the New Testament, namely Jesus – the New Covenant – Salvation.   

Let’s step back and look at the big picture of this episode with Ahaz.

First, you have a wicked and depraved human, totally lost in his sin.  Not only this, he is gripped by fear and failing as a leader.

Second, you have God specifically reaching out to such a sinner.

Third, you have God granting a gift of knowledge without it being merited.  And lets review the words of wisdom:  Be careful, be quiet, don’t fear, don’t lose heart.

Fourth, you have God making a promise to protect Israel.

Fifth, and we didn’t really hit this from verse 9, but God emphasizes that “Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand.”

Sixth, as you have seen today, God puts Ahaz in the point of decision.  And while he CLEARLY has the opportunity to take God up on his offer, Ahaz chooses to continue in his lifestyle of sin.

Can you see the process of salvation, can you see God’s grace at work in the Old Testament?  PAUL????? Will say in the new testament that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance…… even though Ahaz doesn’t repent, can you see God’s kindness at work?

Now, with all that as a back drop, lets go one verse further in chapter 7, verse 14 is God’s response to Ahaz’s stubbornness…… ‘All right then, the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Look!  The virgin will conceive a child and will call him Immanuel ( which means ‘God is with us).”   Sound familiar?  Isn’t it awesome how it is wrapped up and delivered in this story?   How God keeps coming back to a sinful humanity with salvation, this time, prophetically, it is a reference to Jesus and the new covenant.

Before we wrap up this episode, I want to look at one more messianic prophecy in this time frame.   If we skip ahead to chapter 9, we find that everything between 7 and 9 are written in the same period of time, with king Rezin being mentioned throughout.   Lets quickly read verse 1 & 6 & 7: “Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever…..there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with Glory. …… 6-7 “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called “WONDERFUL COUNSELOR” “MIGHTY GOD” “EVERLASTING FATHER” “PRINCE OF PEACE”…..   His government and it’s peace will never end.  He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.   THE PASSIONATE COMMITMENT OF THE LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES WILL MAKE THIS HAPPEN.”

I don’t know if you caught it, but isn’t it interesting that the words for Christ here fit hand in glove with the words of wisdom initially given to Ahaz?  I love how things like this are woven together throughout scripture and especially Isaiah.

The words of wisdom, in short,  were Be Careful, Be Quiet, Don’t Fear, Don’t Lose Heart.

For BE CAREFUL, you have a Wonderful Counselor guiding your steps

For BE QUIET, you have a Mighty God who leads us by still waters and fights your battles

For DON’T FEAR, you have an Everlasting Father who has it all in control

And for DON’T LOSE HEART, you have the Prince of Peace who guards our hearts and minds.

This whole story of Ahaz highlights two things really.  First and foremost, It points to Christ.  His grace.  His mercy.  His passion for us.  His pursuit of us. His patience with us.   

It also points to our need to respond.  And while there are plenty of stories in scripture of those who respond well…  This highlights the stubborn selfish pride that has to break in each one of us.   We can feign wisdom and logic, and dodge the decision in a moment while appearing (or trying to appear spiritual and wise)… 

You can study the lives of David, or Paul, or so many others when they are confronted – and they submit, they bend the knee to the Lord.   And when studying them, the lesson is ‘be like these guys’.  The lesson here is exactly the opposite, it’s  ‘Don’t be like Ahaz’.   Don’t be stubborn, don’t be selfish, don’t be prideful.   Remember God’s offer to ask for anything…. While we should be careful with this, we find another passage in Isaiah 61 that he came to set prisoners free and Ahaz is certainly a prisoner to his sin.   Don’t stay a prisoner to your sin when Jesus desire is to set you free…. Don’t let your pride and stubbornness  keep you imprisoned.

Remember He longs to be your Wonderful Counselor, guiding your steps, your path through Life.  He longs to be your Mighty God who leads you by still waters and fights your battles.  He longs to be your Everlasting Father who has it all in control (including your best interest).  And He longs to be your Prince of Peace who guards your heart and mind.

The question of salvation, as well as walking the day to day of the Christian life, doesn’t depend on God.   God’s side of the equation is set in stone…. It is firm.   The question hinges on whether or not we will bend our knee to begin with, and will we continue to bend our knee in submission to God.   It’s not a one time thing.  You’ll find that it’s a lifestyle dynamic in the Christian life…. And ultimately, it’s a small price to pay for peace. And guidance, and an eternity with Christ in heaven.