The historical background for Isaiah 7 is the Syro-Ephraimite War (735-732 BC). This took place when Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) allied to resist Assyrian expansion. They attacked Judah under King Ahaz to force his participation in their anti-Assyrian coalition.
Isaiah urged Ahaz to trust God rather than seek Assyrian help. Despite Isaiah’s counsel, Ahaz appealed to Assyria, which ultimately defeated both Syria and Israel.
Facing two adversaries, the king was filled with fear. When the house of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind (Isaiah 7:2).
Isaiah and his son, Shear-jashub (meaning, “a remnant shall return”) met Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the fuller’s field (Isaiah 7:3).
The location of their meeting was significant. Ahaz was at a water source checking to see the city could withstand a siege by two warring nations.
Isaiah challenged the king to transform his fear into faith. He delivered God’s promise that He was in control and the nations would not prevail against Judah.
Isaiah’s central message was that the alliance against Judah will fail; God is in control. Below is a bullet point summary of the prophet’s words to the king.
What was God’s command to the king? (v. 4):
- Be careful and stay calm
- Do not be afraid
- Do not lose heart over the threat
What will happen to the enemy? (vv. 4-5):
- Rezin (king of Aram/Syria) and the son of Remaliah (Pekah, king of Israel/Ephraim)
- Described as “two smoldering stumps of firebrands” (nearly burned out, powerless)
- They are angry but not truly dangerous
What was the strategy of Judah’s enemies? (v. 6):
- Plan to attack Judah
- Intend to terrorize and conquer it
- Want to install the son of Tabeel as puppet king
What was God’s response to the enemies of His people? (vv. 7-8):
- Their plan will not succeed
- It will not come to pass
- Syria’s power is limited to Damascus and its king Rezin
- Within 65 years, Ephraim (Northern Kingdom of Israel) will be completely destroyed as a nation
The Choice of Faith
If you are willing to memorize portions of the Bible, please consider adding the last sentence of verse 9 to your collection.
If you do not stand firm in faith,
you shall not stand at all.” (Isaiah 7:9)
Ahaz exemplifies the negative side of this verse. The king was more interested in checking the source of Jerusalem’s water and alliances with foreign nations than placing his trust in God.
Luke 8 is filled with stories of people who chose faith over all the other options. Verses 42-48 describe a woman who had suffered from an illness that kept her socially isolated for 12 years. Even though she was ritually unclean, she dared to touch the fringe of Jesus’ robe.
Her next step of faith was to confess before the crowd pressing in on Jesus that she was the one who touched Him. The result was complete healing and restoration to her place in society.
Ahaz and the woman show us the options we have in our walk with God. We can claim to believe in God, but rely on our resources, or we can demonstrate our faith in God during times of testing.
God’s Patience with the King
I would be hard-pressed to recount all the opportunities God has given me to place my full trust in Him. Like Ahaz, I believe in God, but I also rely on human wisdom and resources at the same time.
God provided Ahaz a very gracious promise – one that is best reflected in the birth of Jesus.
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”
Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also? (Isaiah 7:10-13)
A person’s heart has to be quite hard to be unwilling to respond to a sign from God.
Before we move too quickly from this thought, let’s ask ourselves how we are like the “bad guys.” Let’s ask God to show us ways that we ignore His direction because we want to pursue our personal desires.
Even though Ahaz wasn’t interested in the sign, Isaiah told it to him anyway.
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.
He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
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 (Isaiah 7:14-16).
The Immanuel in verse 14 was fulfilled with the birth of Jesus. I believe there was another child (but not the Savior of the world) born that provided a fulfillment of the prophecy according to the timetable given by the prophet.
Reflections
One deeply spiritual leader was asked what he believed was the most prominent sin among Christian leaders. He said he believes it is hardness of heart. I have thought considerably about this leader’s opinion, and I tend to agree with him.
Cynicism toward the behavior of others can harden our hearts.
Habitual sin that is not overcome will produce a hard heart.
Pride that resists God’s direction is either a reflection of a hard heart or the cause of it.
The best choice we can make is to be like the woman who didn’t let anything keep her faith in Jesus bottled up in self-will and self-sufficiency.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 