Isaiah 7 reminds me of my college coursework. My degree is in Food Science, so I took classes in Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy, and Statistics, yet the most common question everyone asked was, “Do you like to cook?”. It seems that many prophesies are detailed and incredibly complex, yet we want to know if we are going to get a little nourishment for ourselves. The chapter begins with Isaiah recounting the events found in 2 Kings 16. Remember, the nation of Israel was divided with Jerusalem residing in the southern half, called Judah (The North was still called Israel). Judah was ruled by King Ahaz who did not honor God in any way. Instead he worshiped the pagan gods of the surrounding nations. According to 2 Kings 16, he “even sacrificed his son in the fire” as part of his unholy worship. As the chapter begins, we learn that the king of Israel was joining forces with the king of neighboring Aram to attack Jerusalem, “so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken“. God used Isaiah to intercede, “Go out… to meet Ahaz“. “Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood’“. The enemy does not know it, but they are completely burned out. Here is the key to the calm, God said, they “have plotted your ruin“, but “the Sovereign LORD says: ‘It will not take place, it will not happen’“. Are you listening to people that regularly serve fear?
Isaiah continues giving God’s truth to King Ahaz. So often in the Bible alliances of convenience come back to bite people of faith. When the heat is turned up we look for any option. Isaiah added, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all“. Never forget, it is not how much faith you have, but in Whom you place your faith. People are dealing with very real trials and uncertainty today. It is to the desperate Isaiah says, “Ask the LORD your God for a sign“. Ahaz answers in a way that might sound familiar, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test“. He is rejecting God because he has a tastier recipe. Faith often begins with a simple yes. I believe the Holy Spirit can change both circumstances and attitudes. Isaiah asks, “Will you try the patience of my God also?“. Will you ask God, or try God’s patience?
Isaiah next presents the good news, “Hear now, you house of David! …the Lord Himself will give youa sign: The virginwill conceive and give birth to a Son, andwill call Him Immanuel“. Don’t you love when the cookbook has a picture of what the finished dish will look like? According to Matthew 1:23, this was fulfilled in the birth of Christ. We are also told the Name means, “God with us”. Ahaz chose to trust in what he saw instead and turned to the king of Assyria, “I am your servant… save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me” (2 Kings 16). I learned one thing in science class; we cannot see what is happening at the cellular level without a microscope. Ahaz invited the Assyrian army in and the nation was destroyed. “Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River the king of Assyria to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard also“. Israel will be humiliated. And the land made useless, “in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns“. Friend, if you stuck in the thorns, here is a little something to chew on. In Luke 15:6, Jesus says the good shepherd searches for the lost sheep. Once found the celebration begins “Rejoice with Me; I have found My lost sheep“.