Ahaz, the ungodly king of Judah was in trouble. Rezin, king of Aram (Syria) and Pekah, king of Israel (the northern kingdom) wanted him to join them against Assyria, but he would not. Therefore, they planned to attack and install the son of Tabeel as king of Judah (Isaiah 7:1-9). “When it was reported to the house of David (Ahaz), saying, ‘The Arameans have camped in Ephraim,’ his heart and the hearts of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake with the wind” (Isaiah 8:2).

Ahaz had two choices: (1) Appeal to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, to come to his defense, or (2) Trust in God to protect him and his people. Isaiah tried his best to get him to trust in God, but he would not. As the events began to unfold the LORD commanded Isaiah to write a message down for all to see. Explaining what the future held, the LORD had Isaiah write this, “Inasmuch as these people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloal and rejoice in Rezin and the son of Remaliah; now therefore, behold, the Lord is about to bring on them the strong and abundant waters of the Euphrates, even the king of Assyria and all his glory; and it will rise up over all its channels and go over all its banks. Then it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass through, it will reach even to the neck” (Isaiah 8:6-8).

God wanted Ahaz to know that appealing to Assyria was not the answer. In addition to Assyria conquering Syria and northern Israel, Assyria would come on into Judah and wipe away most people.

Symbolic Message in the Waters

First, notice that the people of Judah, along with their king, are no longer spoken of as God’s people, but as “these people.” They had “rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah” (Isaiah 8:6). Instead of trusting in the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah, “the Lord is about to bring on them the strong an abundant waters of the Euphrates” (v. 7). The “Euphrates” was the primary river in Assyria and that nation was about to bring destruction to Ahaz and his people. “The gentle flowing waters of Shiloah” was the channel of gentle flowing water that came from the Gihon Spring into the pool of Siloam which furnished Jerusalem with water (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia “Siloam”). The message was, “Rather than trusting in the quiet, unassuming presence of God to supply their needs, they sent to Assyria” (John Willis commentary on Isaiah 8).

The Application

When we face a crisis, God just asks us to trust in His quiet providential power to deliver us. Unfortunately, most of us appeal to some big human demonstration or want God to work in some big, impressive, “showy” way. God doesn’t have to work in some mighty, powerful way, to work. Remember, when Elijah was afraid, God was not in a great and strong wind which torn the mountain. Neither was He in an earthquake, nor in a blazing fire, but He appeared in the “sound of a gentle blowing” which caused Elijah to wrap “his face in his mantle” (I Kings 19:9-13).

May we grow in our faith to the point of trusting in God as described in “the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah.” Let’s believe what John wrote, “This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” (I John 5:4).

Wayne Burger