A Child Named Immanuel

Jesus and the Just Reign of God
God Sends Jesus
Jesus Birth Foretold

Isaiah 7:10-17

The Message

^10-11 God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, “Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!”

¹² But Ahaz said, “I’d never do that. I’d never make demands like that on God!”
^13-17 So Isaiah told him, “Then listen to this, government of David! It’s bad enough that you make people tired with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you’re making God tired. So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us). By the time the child is twelve years old, able to make moral decisions, the threat of war will be over. Relax, those two kings that have you so worried will be out of the picture. But also be warned: God will bring on you and your people and your government a judgment worse than anything since the time the kingdom split, when Ephraim left Judah. The king of Assyria is coming!”

For Reflection

Ahaz is not the best of men.  And, yet. God calls him to choose.  God asks each of us to choose.  If we do not choose or choose unwisely, God will offer a greater sacrifice on our behalf.  God may also bring judgments against you, but, the offer to be reconciled to God is always on the table. 

Pray

that you will ask for signs of God's steadfast compassion, grace, and love.  Thank God for the gift of His Son, Jesus, who was the way, the truth and the light.  Pray that you will follow the light in confidence that God will keep you from the darkness.