Today’s passage: Isaiah 7:1-9
Helpful thoughts:
- Perhaps Isaiah’s first assignment to Ahaz king of Judah was to tell him not to fear because God was in control.
- Samaria thought that partnering with Syria would result in the fall of their own brothers in Jerusalem. Instead, it brought about their own.
- You can read more about Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28. Judah lost these battles, but the city of Jerusalem was never captured.
- God’s message to Ahaz concluded with the charge to be strong in faith (He wasn’t), and that the kingdom would only be made firm through firm faith.
Questions to consider:
- What should Ahaz have been more sure of after Israel and Syria’s plan failed? Who should he have trusted and worshiped more? Who did he end up worshiping (2 Chronicles 28:22-23)?
- How does Ahaz’s response give a good example of God’s explanation to Isaiah, “Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive“? - What did Isaiah do when God told him to take this message to Ahaz? Why do we sometimes take for granted the obedience of these prophets to take the message, even to kings, just as they are commanded?