What is God’s attitude toward people who ask for a sign?
(Isaiah 7:1-25; 8:1-8; 2 Chron. 28:19; Psa. 118:8-9; Mic. 3:11) Blog Jan. 10-16, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Isaiah began his prophetic ministry by pointing out the hypocrisy of God’s covenant bride who was to him like a choice vine on the hills of Judea. But when he entered God’s presence, he saw that he too was devoid of the holiness God desires. Judah’s and Isaiah’s only hope was in God’s forgiving mercy extended to those who repent and believe God’s gracious offer. God will always have “a very small remnant” who will be eternally delivered through divine judgment.
Invasion Imminent (Isaiah 7:1-9; 1:11-15; 2 Kings 16:3; 2 Chron. 28:1-15; Micah 3:11)
1. When wicked King Ahaz and the people of Judah heard the news about a foreign invasion how did they react? They panicked in masse.
2. Who were the invaders that were coming to attacked Judah during King Ahaz’ reign? They were their own neighbors (Syria) & relatives (Israel).
3. Why did God allow foreign invaders to attack his chosen people? Because they & their leaders had forsaken God & began worshipping idols.
4. According to the prophets Micah and Isaiah whom God sent to King Ahaz how did God’s people remind themselves of their security? They said: “Is not the Lord Among us? None evil can come upon us.” Isaiah says they were celebrating many festivals & offering many sacrifices & prayers while oppressing the poor, taking bribes, & shedding innocent blood.
5. What message of mercy did God send to terrified King Ahaz? He sent Isaiah together with his son, Shear-jashub (meaning “a remnant shall return”) saying, “Take heed and be quiet; fear not neither be fainthearted for… [your attackers] shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.”
6. Even though Israel would be repulse during Ahaz’s day, how long did God say that it would be until the northern kingdom of Israel would no longer exist? Sixty-five years & that was exactly fulfilled by the kings of Assyria.
7. What conditional promise of loss of security did Isaiah give King Ahaz? “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.”
A Divine Sign (Isaiah 7:10-16; 8:1-8, 18; 9:6-7; Num. 14:8; Job 20:17; Matt. 1:20-23; 16:1-4; Luke 1:31-34; Gal. 4:4)
8. When King Ahaz refused to believe that his invaders would vanish away, what further offer did God make? God offered to give the king a miraculous sign to confirm what he had promised but in feigned humility the king said that he did not want to tempt God.
9. What was Isaiah’s response to Ahaz’s refusal to ask for a sign? He replied: “Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
10. What was the temporal and what was the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promised sign? Temporally Isaiah’s wife bore him a second son who was named Maher-shalal-hash-baz (meaning the spoil comes quickly) & ultimately the virgin Mary bore the Christ child who was Immanuel (meaning “God is with us”).
11. Of what are butter and honey a symbol and how to they point to Isaiah’s second son and to Jesus? They symbolize wealth, prosperity, & the blessing of God which Maher-shalal-hash-baz lived under when Ahaz’s son took the throne & which Jesus received in divine instruction at his mother’s knee.
12. What is God’s attitude toward people who ask for a sign? God gave Gideon the signs he requested; he offered Ahaz & Hezekiah signs; & even gave the Jews a sign that Jesus was the true Messiah despite the fact that Jesus said: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” which in context shows that there is a special blessing in believing without seeing a sign but God will grant those weak in faith a sign to encourage their trust in him – which he did for the Jews by keeping Jesus in the grave only three days even though they already had plenty of evidence that Jesus was the Messiah.
Temporary Deliverance (Isaiah 7:16-25; 2 Kings 16:7-9; 2 Chron. 20:20; 28:16-27; Psalms 118:8-9)
13. Instead of heeding God’s prophet what did King Ahaz do when threatened by his neighbors? He begged Tiglath-pileser, kiing of Assyria, to come to his aide & sent him silver & gold that he robbed from the temple & palace.
14. How did the king of Assyria respond to Ahaz’ plea for aide? He invaded Damascus & killed Rezin her king thus quickly ending the invaders threat.
15. In Isaiah 7:17 what did God say would result from Ahaz’s seeking fleshly deliverance rather than believing God’s word? That the king of Assyria who had come to his aide would then invade Judah also.
16. What metaphors does Isaiah next use to describe the activities of the armies that would invade Judah? That of a fly from Egypt & a bee from Assyria that would occupy & subjugate God’s people & that of a razor (Assyria) that God would hire to shave off Judah’s pride.
17. When the invading armies had done their work in what condition would the land of Judah be found? It would be full of uncultivated land filled with thorns & briers & plenty of pasture for cattle & the remnant of people that remained would eat to the full.
18. What lesson should we take from the life and actions of wicked King Ahaz? That we should believe God’s prophets, accept God’s offers of mercy, & not put confidence in humans nor princes – in this way God can prosper us.