Isaiah 7:1-9 reveals that Assyria under Tiglath-Pileser III was a dominant force during the reign of King Pekah of Israel. Assyria went bullying the smaller surrounding nations. King Pekah then allied himself with King Rezin of Syria to deal with Assyria. They sought out King Ahaz of Judah to help them deal with menacing Assyria. But Ahaz refused to join them.
As the story unfolds, 2 Kings 16:5-9 recounts how Pekah and Rezin united
to attack Ahaz and Judah. In a fateful move, Ahaz disregarded Isaiah’s counsel
and turned to Assyria for aid. This decision, however, had dire consequences
for Judah. Unwittingly, she had placed herself under the dominion of Assyria, a
power she should have been wary of.
In Hosea 5:8-12, the Prophet’s vision revealed Israel’s preparations for
battle and the inevitable outcome of her actions. Verse 9 starkly
predicts her defeat and devastation. The Prophet also had a message for Judah
in verse 10, a warning perhaps, as this was the time when Judah, against
Isaiah’s counsel, sought the aid of Assyria to confront King Pekah and claim
some of Israel’s territories.
Israel was judged and condemned for their spiritual and moral decay.
Judah would also be considered because she went against God’s counsel given
through the Prophet Isaiah. Both Israel and Judah had not honored God. Israel’s
judgment would be like a moth eating and tearing holes in a garment, and
Judah’s judgment would be like untreated rotting flesh.
The lesson for us concerns the consequences of seeking alliances for protection instead of
trusting in God. We see the detrimental effects of disregarding wise counsel
and turning to worldly powers for help. The account highlights the danger of
moral decay and disobedience to God’s guidance. We must trust in God’s guidance, align with His will,
and remain steadfast in our commitment to living a life that honors Him.
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