FISH Sandwiches

“When Ahaz… was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.  Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with Ephraim [that is, Israel]”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” (Isa 7:1-2, NIV)

In so many stories of conflict in the Old Testament, the real war is fought more in the heart than on the battlefield.  In the above situation, King Ahaz of Judah was under attack from both the king of Aram and the king of Israel, and though he was able to resist them, he started losing heart.  God came to the rescue in his inimitable style – by sending his word, in this instance by Isaiah the prophet.  God told Ahaz:

“‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid.  Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood – because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.” (Isa 7:4, NIV)

In war, as in life, it seems one of the most important things God warns his people against is losing heart.  He says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Prov 4:23, NIV)

Earlier in their history, at a crucial point, the Israelites lost heart – and lost so much else besides.   They were on the verge of entering the Promised Land, God having just delivered them from Egypt with a show of his might and power.   But when the Israelites heard a discouraging report from their spies about the Promised Land and its formidable inhabitants, they cried:

“Where can we go?  Our brothers have made us lose heart.  They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky…” (Deut 1:28, NIV)

The Israelites lost heart, and their trust in God – and so lost the war before it began.    They spent the next 40 years wandering in the wilderness before they returned again to the Promised Land to gain what God had given them from the start.

When the Israelites finally settled in the Promised Land, Saul became their first king, and he faced a similar struggle against discouragement.  Goliath taunted his army so that they were “dismayed and terrified.” (1 Sam 17:11, NIV)  When David comes to the rescue of the Israelite army, he says to King Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (1 Sam 17:32, NIV)

What David did for the Israelite army – fighting on their behalf to conquer the enemy they couldn’t – Jesus did for us.  And so we hear Jesus saying something similar to his disciples: “…In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  (Jn 16:33, NIV)

So whatever it is, don’t lose heart.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb 12:2-3, NIV)

– Joey