King Ahaz made a terrible, terrifying, self-condemning deduction! He concluded that if Judah had been defeated by Syria, then Syria’s gods must be better and more powerful than Jehovah! A horrible, wrong conclusion. This is the way pagans think. Whoever has the most powerful army must have the most powerful god. This inevitably leads to pluralism. The more gods you have, the more bases you have covered! This is not reality.
In truth, there is only one God, and nations rise and fall according to his plan, purposes, and will. Ahaz did not lead Judah into defeat because God was more deficient than Syria’s god! Judah was defeated because God was judging Judah! Syria’s army was simply God’s means for bringing it about. Should Judah repent, turn to the Lord, and seek Him, He would free them from their enemies and restore their power. It all had to do with Judah’s relationship with the Lord not with some cosmic battle of the gods! God is not at war with other gods. God is at war with sin, and God wins!
This is the final analysis for Ahaz. “In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, ‘Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.’ But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel” (2 Chron 28:22-23).
Recognize God in defeat! He has a purpose. It may not be judgment; it may be strengthening your faith and character. The correct response is to seek Him and learn the lesson he has for you! Ahaz could have repented and found life, but he rather rebelled and it was his ruin!
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