Monday - Isaiah 7 - A Sign for the Blind

R

EMEMBER that we are only one chapter removed from Isaiah's commission to go out to blind the eyes of an unbelieving nation.  Now, Jerusalem found itself surrounded by Syrians and by antagonistic Jews from the Northern Kingdom of Samaria.  As the Jews of Judah reacted with sober disappointment to the fact that their own brothers would be willing to make a league with gentiles against them, God sent Isaiah to their king to give him good news.  Ahaz, king of Jerusalem, was going to get a guarantee from God that he would win in the conflict with these enemies.  But, indicating the hardness of his heart, Ahaz was absolutely unaffected in the message of Isaiah (Isaiah 7:10-12).  Although Isaiah was forecasting the obliteration of Israel by the Assyrians, Ahaz was utterly aloof and completely disinterested.

Now, amazingly God promised to give a sign even though Ahaz didn't want one.  Not only that, He promised a sign which had even further reaching ramifications than the mere duration of the reign of Ahaz.  He promised a miracle.  He promised the birth of a boy without a human father.  He promised the birth of His own Son, Immanuel.  He promised His own incarnation.  What an amazing response to the annoying callousness of Ahaz (Isaiah 7:13)!  I'm not sure exactly how the prophecy was fulfilled in the short term (Isaiah 7:16), but we all know how it was ultimately fulfilled (Matthew 1:22-23).  The virgin Mary gave birth to the Christ child.