Isaiah was given by God the task to prophesy to King Ahaz. While Ahaz was the King of Judah, he was not exactly a follower of God. This daily devotional looks at how God spoke with Ahaz – even though his relationship with God is not where it should have been.
Nuggets
- As happened at times back then, countries were trying to overthrow Judah, of which Jerusalem was the capital.
- God was wanting to give Ahaz a sign.
- The worst thing we can do is make a profession of faith, but it not be genuine.
Isaiah’s Message from Sovereign God Series
In Sunday Morning Bible Study, we are studying Isaiah. Isaiah had several messages from God to give the Israelites.
The message we are going to be looking at in the this and the next devotion are the initial utterings of a Messiah. Let’s jump in and see what we see.
Let's Put It into Context
“This took place during the reign of Ahaz, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah king of Judah: Aram’s King Rezin and Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah went to fight against Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it. When it became known to the house of David that Aram had occupied Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the hearts of his people trembled like trees of a forest shaking in the wind. The Lord said to Isaiah, ‘Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, by the road to the Launderer’s Field. Say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Don’t be afraid or cowardly because of these two smoldering sticks, the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and the son of Remaliah. For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted harm against you. They say, “Let’s go up against Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it for ourselves. Then we can install Tabeel’s son as king in it.’”” (Isa. 7: 1-6 CSB)
As happened at times back then, countries tried to overthrow the governments in other countries. This happened to Judah, of which Jerusalem was the capital.
Aram was a country in southwestern Asia. The Aramaeans, for whom it was named, invaded Syria and Upper Mesopotamia to form this nation.
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We don’t know the cause of the war. Blake gave it a shot. He wrote, “… but from the desire of those kings to dethrone Ahaz, and place on the throne in Jerusalem another, even Ben Tabeal, it may be inferred that Ahaz refused to join these two powers in a general rising against Assyria.”
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Ahaz’s demeanor was contrasted with Isaiah’s demeanor. Driver saw Ahaz’s timidity and indecisiveness. Isaiah projected assurance and control.
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Then again, Ahaz and Isaiah were opposites. Isaiah was a man of God. Ahaz was an evil king.
Still, evil king or not, God stepped in. I loved His response, “… Calm down and be quiet …” (Isa. 7: 4 CSB). The King James Version translated it as “… take heed …” (Isa. 7: 4: KJV).
God was telling Ahaz to stop freaking out. He was not to let this rock his world. He had to remain steady.
Instead, Ahaz was to take a breath and listen for God. That is what God wants us to do when He tells us quiet down.
God doesn’t want us running around trying to do things ourselves. He wants us to depend on Him.
God is going to protect us.
Oh, yeah. It is really difficult for us to be quiet in the chaos. We need to listen for Him.
Lord, I Have Shut the Door
Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Keyboard: Chris Vieth
Delitzsch tried to explain the “… smoking sticks …” (Isa. 7: 4 CSB). He noted that God saw them in the future as the “… ends of wood pokers, half-burned off and wholly burned out, so that they do not burn any longer, but only still keep smoking.”
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When the trials are swirling around us, we have to remember that God already knows the outcome. He knows who the victor is — it will always be Him.
God Wanted to Give a Sign
“Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz: ‘Ask for a sign from the Lord your God — it can be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven.’ But Ahaz replied, ‘I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.’ 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?’” (Isa. 7: 10-13 CSB)
God was wanting to give Ahaz a sign. Yes, the Most High God wanted Ahaz to question Him.
Usually, we would think that God wants us to take Him at His word. That would especially be true of someone who was not following God as he should.
That tells us a couple of very important nuggets. Ahaz was a sinner. God was still His God because he was a son of David (Delitzsch).
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God can still interact with sinners. In fact, it appears that Ahaz did have some sort of relationship with God.
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Was Ahaz just being obstinate? He refused to ask God for the sign.
Strachey thought Ahaz refused to ask for a sign because God wasn’t Ahaz’ God. He didn’t see Him as all-powerful, all-seeing, and all-present. He didn’t have a solid relationship with His Maker.
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Oh, yeah. Ahaz used Moses as justification. Moses has said, “Do not test the LORD your God …” (Deut. 6: 16 CSB). He probably thought at “good answer” would save him from a lecture from Isaiah.
Ooo, baby. Ahaz was convincing himself that he didn’t have to listen to God. He was going the wrong way about it.
Bertram brought up a good point. Ahaz had to make a split-second decision. He lived with his decision — be it good or bad.
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Satan will put us all in situations where we have to make a split-second decision. That is why we need to be focused on God and grounded in His Word.
When Isaiah calls Ahaz on not doing what God has commanded him to do, Isaiah says something about trying man and God’s patience. (Isn’t it mind boggling that God feels all of the injuries inflicted on us?)
We get we try each other’s patience. Let’s face it. Patience may be a virtue, but some of us struggle greatly with it.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Did we know we could try God’s patience? Don’t we see Him as the even keeled person He wants us to be? That means all loving, all patient Father — all the time.
The Homiletic Review felt that, if we think trying man’s patience is bad, trying God’s patience “… whose hand holds their life and destiny …” is infinitely worse.
A list is given in the Homiletic Review as to ways we try God’s patience.
• “indifference
• “obstinacy
• “procrastination
• “backsliding.”
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Well, those are all wrapped up in our acceptance of Him as Sovereign Lord. If we could care less about Him being our Creator or not, we won’t be putting our trust in Him.
If we refuse to make a profession of faith or keep putting it off, we are not following His Will. God “… wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Tim. 2: 4 CSB).
Worse yet is when we make a profession of faith, but it isn’t genuine. We fall always from God. The churchy word is backsliding. Backsliding is when those who have made a profession of faith return to their sinful lives.
Melvill brought up a really good point. Here the trials were going full force — and Ahaz was upping his sin game. Not smart.
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Just think. He was the king. That meant he was probably an influencer. “Well, if Ahaz thinks this way, it is okay for us to think that way, too.”
We have to watch that, though. “… From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Jn. 12: 48 NIV).
God Gave the Sign
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isa. 7: 16 CSB)
Remember in Worshiping God the Correct Way, we said that some want to discount Isaiah as being the sole writer of the book because he describes things that happen after his death? This is one of the passages to which they refer.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
First off, we have to figure out what a sign actually is. Sweets quoted Delitzsch’s definition: “… a thing, event, or act which may serve to guarantee the Divine certainty of some other thing, event, or act.” It can be more of a token than a miracle.
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We know now that this is a sign about Jesus’ birth that would come 700 years later. No, it does not scream Messiah anywhere in it. In a way, it is simple and straightforward.
Well, it is if you just take it at surface value.
When we dig deeper, it is monumental.
But the digging has to come in the next devotion.
Father. We are so unworthy of You, yet You love us and have designed a way in which our relationships with You can be restored. We know that there are so many times that You want to give us things. However, the sin in our lives stops that. We confess all sin and ask Your forgiveness. We pray that we become more like You. Amen.
What do you think?
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