Isaiah 7:10-16

Advent 2022 WK 4

Isaiah 7:10–16 NRSV

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. 13 Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

-> How great is God’s love for us?

—> Ahaz was not a good king and yet God does everything he possibly could do.

Eleventh king of Judah, son of Jotham, whom he succeeded. 2 Kgs. 16:2; 2 Chr. 28:1. He reigned sixteen years, b. c. 742–726. He was a gross idolater, and even sacrificed his children to the gods. He remodeled the temple to fit it for idolatrous rites. He kept chariot-horses dedicated to the sun. This course brought upon him and his kingdom severe judgments. God made them to flee before their enemies. Their allies often proved unfaithful, and involved them in great distress.

—> I will do anything for you so that you will see I am God, deeper than the deepest, higher than the highest and everything in between.

—> But Ahaz says, “Nope” not for me I won’t ask God, I won’t go to God.

—> Ahaz wants no part of what God has to offer.

—> Isaiah 7:13

Isaiah 7:13 NRSV

13 Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?

—> vrs 13 so Isaiah says, “ok Ahaz, ok rulers of the people, I see that you don’t care about your people or God’s desires.

—> Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 NRSV

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

—> vrs 14 —> I get it I’m not good enough, you won’t listen to me so allow God to speak to you directly. There will be born a child that will be Immanuel, God with us.

—> No matter what happens

—> No matter how far we go

—> We can’t go low enough

—> We can’t go high enough

—> God will find a way to be with us

—> But this wasn’t the last sign of God’s love

—> Jesus’ birth wasn’t the last sign of God’s love

—> If we open our eyes we can see the love of God, and the provision of God all around

—> To see this though you have to be looking

—> Ahaz refused to look, he refused to acknowledge what God was trying to do.