Chapter 7 Part 2 Ahaz’s Decision Ahaz was at the crossroads. He could believe God and stay upon Him for the protection of Jerusalem or reject the words of His prophet Isaiah. In verse 7:11 The LORD offers to prove that he was able to be believed upon (1John 5:13) and could defend His city and His people. God told Ahaz to ask for a sign and he could make the sign as great as he wanted, a no limit sign. Jeremiah 32:17- Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Ecclesiastes 3:14 - I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. The LORD gave Ahaz the opportunity to see The LORDs omnipotence displayed like no man had it before There was nothing that Ahaz could ask The LORD to do that HE was unable perform. Verse 7:11-13 - “Ahaz’s humble statement“? I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. Was this a statement of humility or a statement of defiance toward The LORD. The LORD answers this question in verse 12 - The LORD (God the Son) is telling Ahaz that his refusal to ask for a sign was trying the patience of His God (God The Father). [Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God] Ahaz just fell into the hand of God The Father. By refusing to ask for a sign Ahaz wearied God. If he would have obeyed and asked The LORD for a sign Ahaz would have seen a great and marvelous thing and been established by The LORD. [Phillipians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ - this is being established] [Romans 4: 20-22 how Abraham was established] Ahaz chose not to believe The LORD and defy His word. The Lord’s response - 7:14-16 Therefore - because you defy me and choose to not believe or obey The LORD will give you a sign -The Greatest Sign Of All A virgin shall conceive and bear a son - a great sign in itself - a human impossibility we know this to be the virgin birth of Jesus. This is the first plain prophesy of the virgin birth of the Son of God. (Isaiah 9:6) This is a clear sign of God ultimate power of all nature including the womb. The Jewish proof of her virginity - she shall name the child - This was the right and responsibility of the father - God the Father through the virgin mother will name her son. This done only with the consent and permission of the father. Often we stop at this verse being a prophesy fo the birth of Christ, which it is but, rest of the story Notice Ahaz was not told to look for this sign - God knew Ahaz would not see this birth. This sign wasn’t something for Ahaz to wait for or see but believe “ God - “I say this will happen,, believe it, it will come to pass. This was another opportunity for Ahaz to choose to believe The LORD and have it be accounted to him for righteousness (Gen 15:6) or be established. The promise of God’s presence - the virgin born son’s name Immanuel, that is God with of. We know this virgin born son was God The Son, The Holy One Of Israel. - This name was another opportunity fo Ahaz to choose to believe that God would be with Judah and save His city. The Lord told Ahaz to believe that those coming against His city Jerusalem, would not prevail because I am with you.. Believe it and be established. Here is why you can believe - I am going to cause a virgin to conceive and bear a son and that son will be Me coming to physically live among my people. He the virgin born child will only do that which is good. He will be truly a man - need to eat like others. Verse 7:16- The child spoken of here could be Isaiah’s son - Shearjashub who The Lord told Isaiah to bring with him, before he would be old enough the discern good and evil (the virgin born son never had to learn the difference between good and evil) the two kings coming against Jerusalem would loose their lands - More of the sign to prove God - (This happened two years later when both were slain by the king of Assyria) Verse 7:17 -18 Because Ahaz had made the decision not to ask for a sign and not obey or believe Him and all of Israel would never believe or obey Him - “That Day” would come and it would be unlike anything they would experience before it. Ahaz believe it “That Day” will also come to pass. Next week the consequences of Ahaz’s decision to not believe or obey The LORD Reread: 2Kings 16, 2Chronicles 28 Next Lesson - Ahaz’s Decision & Ezekiel 18