December 12, 2022

Isaiah 7:10-25  (HCSB)
The Immanuel Prophecy
10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz: 11 “Ask for a sign from the Lord your God—from the depths of Sheol to the heights of heaven.” 12 But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.” 13 Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? 14 Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. 15 By the time he learns to reject what is bad and choose what is good, he will be eating butter and honey. 16 For before the boy knows to reject what is bad and choose what is good, the land of the two kings you dread will be abandoned. 17 The Lord will bring on you, your people, and the house of your father, such a time as has never been since Ephraim separated from Judah —the king of Assyria is coming.” 18 On that day the Lord will whistle to the fly that is at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 All of them will come and settle in the steep ravines, in the clefts of the rocks, in all the thornbushes, and in all the water holes. 20 On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria —to shave the head, the hair on the legs, and to remove the beard as well. 21 On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep, 22 and from the abundant milk they give he will eat butter, for every survivor in the land will eat butter and honey. 23 And on that day every place where there were 1,000 vines, worth 1,000 pieces of silver, will become thorns and briers. 24 A man will go there with bow and arrows because the whole land will be thorns and briers. 25 You will not go to all the hills that were once tilled with a hoe, for fear of the thorns and briers. Those hills will be places for oxen to graze and for sheep to trample.

Andrea Campo Ahaz was facing military invasion with little hope of survival. He turned from the Lord and led Judah into idolatry. God sent Isaiah who told Ahaz to ask for a sign as proof God would protect them. Ahaz refused, knowing once God provided the sign, he’d have to trust God. Isaiah prophesies the coming Messiah, not because it’s the sign Ahaz would see, but that God’s will will be carried out with or without him. Immanuel was the promise that God would protect his people, despite their imperfections. All they had to do was trust in the Lord. Because we know how this story ends, we assume it should’ve been an easy choice for Ahaz. How many times have we given into fear, exhausted our means, received signs then questioned if it’s REALLY from God. Don’t give into fear, trust in Him! He’s already told you how the story ends.