As much as we may sow into the future, investing in the lives of those who come after us, each person faces their own pivotal choice. Born with a tendency toward sin, our default setting is the self-focused way of pride (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3). But Jesus comes to break those chains of sin and self, giving us the power to live in God-centered humility (Rom. 6:6-7).
This choice was vividly illustrated in the lives of two kings of Judah: Jotham and his son, Ahaz. Jotham, though not a prominent figure in Scripture, ruled Judah in relative peace and prosperity. He was known for doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, following in the footsteps of his father, King Uzziah (2 Kings 15:34; 2 Chron. 27:6). Jotham rebuilt portions of Jerusalem and strengthened Judah militarily, but he notably avoided entering the temple like his father, who was struck with leprosy for overstepping the role of priest (2 Chron. 26:16-21). Despite Jotham’s personal faithfulness, the people continued in their corrupt practices, foreshadowing the spiritual decline that would intensify under his son’s reign (2 Chron. 27:2).
When Ahaz succeeded his father Jotham, the contrast could not have been starker. Ahaz was young, impressionable, and faced immediate threats from neighboring Israel and Aram. Rather than following the example of his father and trusting in the Lord, Ahaz chose a different path. In a bid for protection and power, he aligned himself with the empire of Assyria, placing Judah under its influence and adopting its idolatrous practices. Ahaz’s alliance with Assyria not only brought spiritual decay to Judah but also led to his tragic decision to offer his own son as a sacrifice to the gods of Assyria (2 Kings 16:3).
It’s easy to see how a young king like Ahaz could be tempted by the wealth and power of the Assyrian kings. They often held both religious and political titles, such as “high priest of Ashur,” enjoying absolute authority without the need for approval or guidance from elders. In his desire to imitate their power, Ahaz introduced idol worship in Judah, rejecting the humility of his father’s God.
Humility vs. Pride
Isaiah offers insight into Ahaz’s rejection of Jotham’s God and the humility that marks His character. The Assyrians drew much of their power and wealth from the mighty Euphrates River, a vital trade route and source of irrigation for their fertile lands. In contrast, Jerusalem’s main water source was the quiet Gihon Spring, near the Temple Mount. Isaiah compared this spring to the Euphrates, showing that Ahaz and Judah had rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah (Gihon) and desired instead the power symbolized by the Euphrates (Is. 8:6-8).
At the Gihon Spring, King Solomon—God’s chosen—was crowned. The first chapter of 1 Kings tells of this event. When King David was nearing death, his son Adonijah tried to seize the throne. Like his arrogant brother Absalom, Adonijah exalted himself, ignoring the counsel of Israel’s elders, including the high priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan. Instead, he gathered his brothers and military commanders, celebrating their rebellious plot.
But it was Nathan, not Solomon, who protested. He informed Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and the news quickly reached David. The king acted swiftly, sending Solomon to the Gihon Spring to be anointed as king (1 Kings 1:33). Notably, David didn’t call for war horses or chariots but for a mule—a symbol of peaceful and humble kingship. The gentle waters of Gihon represent life and humility, a symbol of Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink,” said Jesus (Jn. 7:37). “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:38).
The Gihon Spring also fed the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a blind man (Jn. 9:7). These quiet waters represent faith that sees beyond what natural eyes perceive (Heb. 11:1; 2 Kings 6:16-17). This kind of faith fosters meekness, for “the meek shall inherit the earth” (Ps. 37:11; Matt. 5:5). While the meek inherit, the proud grasp and strive for control.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, shouts of “hosanna”—meaning “save now”—filled the air as palm branches waved. Like Solomon, Jesus rode on a donkey, and some scholars suggest He was even heading toward the Gihon Spring (Matt. 21:9; Zech. 9:9). Though the people expected Him to take David’s throne, Jesus’ coronation came in a much different form—on the Cross, crowned with thorns.
When the Last Adam died, His side was pierced, and from His heart flowed a spring of blood and water (Jn. 19:34). In that moment, Jesus was crowned King over a new creation, bringing an end to the fallen world of the first Adam. From His pierced side came the Church, the new Eve—the Bride of Christ.
Jesus embodied perfect faith, willingly becoming the sacrificial Lamb because He trusted His loving Father. Instead of seizing power, He surrendered His life in holy meekness, fulfilling the Old Testament types and shadows. He, the “Resurrection and the Life,” calls us to trust in Him (Jn. 11:25).
The Almighty does not need the glittering trappings of armies, chariots, and horses (Ps. 20:7). He chose to save the world through a baby born of a virgin. Ahaz, too, had a choice: to trust in horses and chariots or to trust the God who can melt hills and part seas—the God who takes away the sin of the world through His Son, the Lamb that was slain (Rev. 5:9). Would Ahaz worship the seemingly helpless baby, the Son of God? Or would he bow to Assyria, to Ninurta, the son of Ashur, and all that glitters?
Ahaz and Judah chose the powerful waters of the Euphrates over the gentle waters of Shiloah, and the river that symbolized their desire for worldly strength ultimately consumed them. “Therefore the Lord is bringing against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates” (Is. 8:7).
Considering this, Isaiah turned his attention to the next generation, preparing them for the coming Messiah while awaiting the Lord’s redemption. He declared, “Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord… Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel” (Is. 8:16-18).
The significance of sowing into the next generation cannot be overstated. While Ahaz sacrificed his children to Assyrian idols, Isaiah’s children became symbols of hope, enduring mockery for their faith. And so it is that “Blessed are you when others revile you…for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11-12).
By Paul Snyder