The story of King Ahaz is a sobering one. Given every advantage, he chose again and again to go his own way, and a nation paid the price. It would be easy to read it and shake our heads — until we realize we all have a little something of Ahaz in us.
Scripture holds up a mirror, not to shame us, but to invite us back. The same God who let Ahaz reap what he sowed stood ready, the whole time, to forgive and restore. He still does.