Paul the Poke

Isaiah 7:10 Then the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying,

Now imagine if this was you in Ahaz’s position. The God of the universe is approaching you personally and talking to you. This is not a televangelist who claims to have the inside track on talking to God. This is the real deal. What if God really approached you? This happened to Ahaz.

Isaiah 7:11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”

God places no limits on the request. Whatever you want to know! What would you ask God? Have you thought about it?

Isaiah 7:12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

For starters, Ahaz is not answering God’s question. God is not asking to be tested. God is granting him a request. God is not impressed with the piety. This is not a challenge or a test for God.

Isaiah 7:13 Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?

At this point, Isaiah interjects with Ahaz. Wake up! Isaiah is reminding Ahaz he is in the promised and protected line of the kingdom. Ahaz is in the family tree of David. This is what God promised David and his house. 2 Samuel 7:8-16. “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”

God then reveals to Ahaz His own sign. This leader and king I am speaking of, He will be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Talk about testing the guy’s faith…

This entry was posted on February 16, 2013 at 6:51 PM and is filed under Isaiah with tags 2 Samuel 7, Ahaz, Davidic Covenant, house of David, Immanuel, Isaiah 7:14, Jesus, virgin birth, virgin conception. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.