Intense Faith

Okay, so this week I've been reading out of the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon. They've been interesting. As always, they've taken a little longer to go through than other chapters, but they're also chalked full of insights that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. One such case it in 2 Nephi 17:6. 

Ahaz is counseling with Isaiah, and the topic of war comes up. Isaiah tells Ahaz not to fret, the Lord will protect them. Ahaz has reason to believe the TWO neighboring countries are in cahoots waiting for the pristine moment to attack. Isaiah's only defense is that the Lord has told him that they will be fine. In my mind, Ahaz has four choices. Listen and follow what Isaiah is saying, listen and prepare for the impending attack, don't listen and prepare, or don't listen and do nothing. Now that last one is in there just because it is a choice, not good ruler would ever do that. 

Which choice does Ahaz go with? The first of course! He trusts Isaiah, and more important than that he trusts God. Now let's round out to home base and figure out how this relates to you and me. What does some king that lived literally thousands of years ago have anything to do with the 21st century? Ahaz has something that many, I might even push on saying most, people of our time lack. That is to possess the faith to trust God in life-altering decisions.  Ahaz could have just of easily said, "I trust the Lord, but let us prepare anyways" or "It is my duty to prepare for the just in case". But he didn't. He led his country, his people, through faith. 

This wasn't blind faith, but rather a faith that has been tested and grown through years of experience. To get to this level we have to trust God now. It's just like learning to walk, it takes baby steps. Baby step after baby step of faith will lead us to complete faith in the Lord.