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. And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 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, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria. (Isaiah 7:2-4 ESV)
Stumps
To receive the gift and hope found in these verses, we need a little background. God’s people had divided into two nations, referred to here as “the house of David,” who were the Israelites who had tried to remain faithful to God; and “Ephraim,” who were the Israelites who had rejected God.
The Lord tells Isaiah that even though the rebellious Israelites who joined forces with a pagan nation, Syria, God’s faithful Israelites STILL had nothing to fear. God calls the enemy, despite their rage against God’s faithful people, despite their military might, despite their power and arrogance, mere stumps of burning wood.
God declares His protection for one reason: He loves His people.
And He protects His people the same way, today. Now, however, it is not a nation that God loves. It is His church. The Christian Church is now loved, protected, upheld, defended, and blessed in the same way that Old Testament Israel was.
So even when modern enemies such as hostile governments and laws, arrogant mockery of our faith, or a culture that believes God’s Truth is outdated attack His People, God calls them stumps of wood. Not even really on fire, but only smoldering.
But remember, it is not because we are more loveable than the stumps. It is only because we are more loved. And that should be delightfully humbling.