Scripture Reference: Matthew 1:18-25

Ahaz and Immanuel – Continued

From last lesson: Ahaz was not a believer, yet God sent Isaiah the prophet to offer him a gracious blessing. Isaiah said, “Do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint.” The evil plan, the invasion, “shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass” (Isaiah 7:4, 7).

Since Isaiah knew Ahaz might be skeptical he added two thoughts. First, he warned: “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” (Isaiah 7:9). In other words “if you don’t stand firm in faith, you won’t stand at all.” Second, he offered something: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God” and he will grant it so you can be sure he will grant you this deliverance (Isaiah 7:10).

Unfortunately, Ahaz wanted no part of Isaiah or his sign. He did not believe the Lord would deliver him. Instead, he had his own plan of escape. To defeat two small powers, the northern tribes of Israel and Aram, Ahaz planned to appeal to the greatest power of the region, the king of Assyria. Ahaz, however, was unwilling to admit his plan to Isaiah, so he used a pious ploy, couched in religious jargon, to cover his rebellion. He said, “I will not ask [for a sign], and I will not put the LORD to the test” (Isaiah 7:12). How often do we, in times of doubt and uncertainty put forth our justification with phony religious jargon and a false humility? Ahaz was not being humble, but rather, devious, it was a false humility.

Now it is true that we should not test the Lord. We should not demand that he perform signs or wonders for us. We should not tell God, “Do this and do that for me and then I will believe in you” (compare Genesis 28:20-22; Exodus 17:1-7). However, God had already resolved to give Ahaz a sign, as a gift. He knew Ahaz did not believe in him, so he offered a sign as a token of his strong love. Ahaz was saying, in essence, “I want no dealings with God, no gifts, no signs. I will care for my own destiny.”

Isaiah replied that whether Ahaz wanted a sign or not, he would receive one: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Before this child knew right from wrong, the two kings attacking Ahaz would be destroyed (Isaiah 7:16). But after that, Isaiah said, God “will bring . . . the king of Assyria!” (Isaiah 7:17).

Ahaz intended to hire Assyria to fight for him, to make an alliance. He invited Assyria’s army to come and fight the invaders and then, most likely, to receive the booty from the defeated armies and a gift from Ahaz. We can imagine, therefore, that when Isaiah said Assyria would come it pleased Ahaz, initially at least. Yet, Isaiah continued, when Assyria came and delivered Ahaz, it would do so its own way. Assyria would come like a plague of flies, like bees swarming, like a raging river sweeping over the land (Isaiah 7:18-19; 8:4, 7-8).

God had offered Ahaz a gentle deliverance, but Ahaz wanted a mighty warrior. Now, God says, Ahaz would find one. The mighty army of Assyria would come and sweep away the invaders. But the army of Assyria would be hard to control. It would be like a flood, bursting its banks. That army “will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel” (Isaiah 8:7-8).

To Be Continued

Adapted and modified excerpts from Daniel M. Doriani, The Incarnation in the Gospels, Reformed Expository Commentary.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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