The Christmas Thread: Rescue is Coming
Rescue is Coming • Sermon • Submitted
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10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz:
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 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary i. The Moment of Decision (7:1–17)
11–12. The sin of putting the LORD to the test is refusing to trust him and his past faithfulnesses unless he prove himself trustworthy all over again. The situation is transformed when the Lord proffers a sign.
Isaiah 7:10-
We are not told exactly why Ahaz is instructed to ask for a sign but the implication is that God knew in his heart that Ahaz had doubts about God’s faithfulness. It is in God’s infinite mercy that he even offers to ease Ahaz’s mind. He didn’t do it Ahaz but His love for David and to carry that Christmas thread through to it’s fulfillment.
When Ahaz refuses to comply, I think there is a little frustration in God’s voice when He says, “I’ll give you a sign.”
The ultimate sign that God could possibly give to demonstrate his faithfulness would be a sign the Messiah was here.
If God fulfills a thousands year old promise, there is never any reason to ever question his faithfulness. The prophecy is addressed not to Ahaz, but to the whole House of David.
The ultimate sign of God’s faithfulness is the sign of the Messiah.
Matthew 1
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz:
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 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Matthew
Big Idea: Christmas is about God coming to the rescue.
Big Idea: Christmas is about God coming to the rescue.
1. Fear gets in the way of trust.
1. Fear gets in the way of trust.
2. Future provision reflects past action.
2. Future provision reflects past action.
Reflection: The Christmas season is about rescue.
Reflection: The Christmas season is about rescue.
3. God will be faithful.
3. God will be faithful.