Am I Relying on God as my Savior and Rock? (Isaiah 17-18)

The attack of Israel and Aram on Judah (Isa 7:1) precipitated a crisis of faith and trust. Judah [Ahaz], instead of turning to God, turned to the nations of the world [Assyria] for its help at the critical moment of difficulty. Thus, in Isaiah 17, Isaiah used this good opportunity to declare the truth that all nations of the world are subject to Yahweh (Isa 17:12-14; 18:1-7). So it would be entirely foolish for Judah to either fear the nations or trust the nations (Isa 7:2, 4a, 9b).

According to 17:12-14, it is unnecessary to become afraid because of the raging of the nations, for they will be gone.

18:1-3 says that instead of envoys coming from the Ethiopian king of Egypt to invite Judah to join a coalition against Assyria, envoys should go to the Ethiopians to them them what God says.

18:4-7 is a direct message from God. While the nations are in turmoil like the waves of the sea, God quietly waits and will take action at just the right moment, cutting off the oppressing nations and leaving their corpses on the mountains.

In the midst of earth's struggles, it is often hard to believe that God is really on the throne. Suppose a modern-day Isaiah announced in 1942 that Germany and Japan (who ruled fully half the world between them) would be completely powerless in just a little over three years, he would have been laughed at and scorned. Despite the military power of those two great nations, they were swept away. God is the one reality who does not change or fade away. God is the One with whom we must come to terms.

What and whom are we relying on, putting our trust in, linking our lives, welfare and futures with? Ephraim chose Damascus, and sank along with its chosen associate. The powers of the world offered no security, rather the reverse.

Are we careful and discriminating enough when it comes to forming relationships, taking on business partners, falling in love? Is our confidence in well-founded insurance and assurance policies, sound investments, sufficient goods stored up? Or are we as firmly wedded to the God of our salvation ad the Rock of our stronghold (Isa 17:10)? What do our neighbors see? Much more, what does the Watcher of Isa 18:4 see?