Only the fourth time this month I have had the space after my morning readings to type a few thoughts. It’s been a busy, busy month. And even this morning, after a sleepless night so far, there’s not much capacity for putting “pen to paper.”

This morning as I read in Isaiah, I paused to meditate for a moment over the last part of Isaiah 7:9. Then, in Isaiah 8, the words “my disciples” caught my eye. Isn’t that more of a New Testament term? Apparently, because this is the only time you’ll find those words in the Old Testament. But a learner is learner, a follower is a follower. And the Lord’s charge to His disciples in Isaiah 8, seemed to reinforce the Lord’s truth in Isaiah 7.

Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in Him.

(Isaiah 8:16-17 ESV)

I will wait . . . I will hope . . . If those aren’t words of firm faith, I’m not sure what are.

Here are some thoughts on firm faith from 10 years ago which were part of my morning meal today.

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Insurmountable opposition is the great equalizer. Doesn’t matter if you are top of the food chain or bottom of the pile, when you are outnumbered, you are outnumbered. When “the 800-pound gorilla in the room” is actually IN the room, doesn’t matter if are you the CEO or just another CPA, everybody’s unsettled. Unless, of course, you know the One who is greater than any enemy force. If, instead, you trust in Someone who makes any King Kong seem like a chimp in comparison. Isaiah reminds me this morning that with a firm faith comes a firm footing.

Reading in Isaiah 7 this morning and the king of Syria joins forces with the son of the king of Israel to wage war against Jerusalem. And Ahaz king of Judah knows he has a problem. A really BIG problem.

When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

(Isaiah 7:2 ESV)

Their hearts trembled. Both king and servant. Both adult and child. When they heard of this unholy alliance set against them, they were compromised to their core. And it was into this situation that the LORD sent His prophet Isaiah.

And the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, . . . And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands . . . ‘”

(Isaiah 7:3-4 ESV)

Be on guard, Ahaz, don’t let your heart melt before these two conquering wannabe’s. Know peace. Refuse dread. No need to be timid before this two “smoldering stumps.”

And through the prophet, the LORD, seeks to assure the king of Judah that what these two aggressors had in mind would never come to pass. That rather than conquer, they would be conquered. That within 65 years Ephraim, the northern kingdom, would “be shattered from being a people” (7:8). And to punctuate His assurance, the LORD through Isaiah exhorts Ahaz,

“If you are not firm in faith,
       you will not be firm at all.”

(Isaiah 7:9b ESV)

The eternal pillar of fire from heaven was ready to stand strong against these “two burned-out embers” (NLT) of earth. The King of glory who commands legions of mighty angels — He who Isaiah had seen seated on His throne, high and lifted, before whom the angels declare “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is filled with His glory” (Isa. 6:1-5) — this mighty King of heaven was ready to defend His people against the big-talking, though just smoke-blowing, kings of earth. But, says Isaiah, without faith there could be no footing.

God is ready to enter the fray on behalf of His people. His grace is sufficient (2Cor. 12:9). He is for us, so who can be against us (Rom. 8:31)? The work He has begun in us, He will complete (Php. 1:6). . . and even the gates of hell will not prevail (Matt. 16:18). That’s the truth. But will we believe it? Will we trust in it? Will we, by grace, stand firm in it? If we are not firm in faith, we will not be firm at all.

Know the word of God . . . know the God of the word . . . and trust in the Lord with all your heart (Prov. 3:5-6).

Firm faith, firm footing.

By His grace. For His glory.