Isaiah Meanderings (10): Chs 7/8 - Leaders Who Favor Corrupt Alliances Above God's Caring Guidance

In Isaiah 7 and 8, Isaiah tells Ahaz that the enemies he currently fears are not enemies worthy of his fears. But Ahaz does not want to listen to Isaiah. Rather, Ahaz wants to partner with Assyria's opulent earthly power. Instead of being the people of Immanuel (God with us) - the people of God's care and presence - Ahaz chooses the power of an earthly power - a people who will eventually taunt Israel: 'God is with us' - as in not with you. Ahaz, unlike his father and grandfather, is not interested in hearing from the LORD - he prefers to listen to - he chooses to follow power that could care less for he and the people he leads. He chooses to follow a worldly powerful enemy above following the leadership of the true loving and kind God of Israel.