2 Chronicles 28:1-3 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father. For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Ahaz was one of the most wicked of the kings of Judah, responding to God’s goodness by committing abominable practices of worship of and sacrifice to false gods. Here is recorded a long list of unbelief and idolatry: He did not what was right; He walked in the ways of the evil kings of Israel; He made idols for Baal; He burnt incense in Hinnom (Gehenna, hell); He sacrificed his own children (a real abomination); He sacrificed on high places, hills, and groves.
Everything he did was a gross example of sin against the First and Great Commandment. God punished Israel for his idolatrous and unbelieving leadership, bringing enemy invasions. Satan is allowed to carry out God’s judgments when he is given such an open invitation.
However, in the midst of these hard times the Lord inspired Isaiah to speak the famous prophecy of Isaiah 7:14: “A virgin will bear a son, Immanuel.” This prophesied Messiah is Jesus, who will save His people from their sins. In difficult and troublous times, maybe even caused by our own sin and unbelief, even in our dark hours the love of God still shines forth with a ray of hope: it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Immanuel and our Savior.