I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed – I, and not some foreign god among you. Isaiah 43:11-12.

This is such a strange chapter, 2 Kings 16. Ahaz is king of Judah. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. v. 3-4.

He even told the king of Assyria that he was his servant and vassal. Come up and save me…v. 7. Ahaz even had the priest build an altar like the one in Assyria; he changed the altar of the temple to be like the altar he saw in Damascus. v. 10-18. In today’s parlance, it almost seems like he had a bromance with the king of Assyria. He took away the Sabbath canopy, that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria. v. 18. Wow.

Ancient history. What about us? What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32.

What shall we say when we read Scripture showing us what was before? Gratefulness. We see what cannot save us and we know Who will. The history we read is the history of us. And God Himself entered into our story to show us the way to life. Life that is good. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39. Who will save us? Our Creator God who gives us life. He’s here. He always has been. He gives us choice. I choose life with Him and the more I choose Him, the more grateful I am for all He gives in His great love. With Him my eyes are opened to the beauty He has made in creation and in us. Love without end.