Tuesday-December 3
In the beginning of making plans for our Christmas
Devotional I had planned to give only two days to each question. Yet the Lord
as laid a third day on my heart concerning the question "Who is
coming"?
Once again we will examine Isaiah's writing. Our scripture
reading will be a very familiar Christmas reading of Isaiah 7:14. This
reading will teaches us about the miraculous power of God that can come to you
when you understand God is with you.
As we look at this verse in its context(7:1-14) we see it is
contrasting trusting man or trusting God. The main theme of Isaiah 7-39 is
trust. Should Judah and her leadership trust in the nations or trust in God.
Isaiah will show to the reader that trusting in the nations will lead to
destruction while trusting God will lead to the creation of abundance.
The Judah is faced with opposition from her severed brother,
the northern ten tribes Israel, and Syria (1-2). What should her King Ahaz do?
Should he trust God or Assyria for deliverance? God instructs Isaiah to meet
the king and to speak a word of faith (3). Do not fear neither let your heart
be weak because of the anger of your enemies that has been expressed in their
threats of destruction. It will not happen! They are just the smoking ends of
sticks where a bonfire has been. The fire is gone and these are all that
remain. Their mighty armies are skeletons of what they once were. The test is
for you to believe this Word of God! If you do not believe and trust this Word
you will live a life of doom, fear, doubt and uneasiness in the shadow of your
enemies (4-9).
God then challenges him to build his faith and ask for a
sign from God! Test God! See if I will come through (10-11)! But Azah will not
grasp the opportunity (12). Why? Has he already made up his mind to depend on
the armies of Assyria to defeat these enemies? If God through Isaiah offers a
sign will that put Ahaz in the position of embarrassment that his plan was not
the right one? He has depended on his skill of diplomacy instead of God. So he
uses scripture to justify his actions: I will not tempt the Lord (Duet 6:16).
It seems that he is trusting in scripture but not in God which is impossible to
do. You must have a little faith before you ask for a sign of confirmation. The
sign can only confirm evidence of faith not create faith! He has none.
Isaiah speaks to him that you are rejecting the God who
would have supported you (13). If Ahaz will not ask for a sign then God will
give a sign anyway!
Isaiah 7:14 (KJV 1900)
14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold,
a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.
God's Word is sure! No matter that you Azah trust in the
nations to protect us, understand we will survive your lack of trust in God! We
are God's people and God is with us! Our sign that we are God's people will be
that there will be a son born to a virgin who will reign as a King of Righteousness.
He will be named Immanuel which is God with us (Matt 1:21). He will lead us by
trusting in the Spirit instead of the arm of the flesh for victory!
When Matthew records the words of the angel to Joseph in his
dream, he states the important fact that the baby shall save His people from
their sins (1:21). He backs up the thought of the importance of the name of
Jesus and who it is who that is coming when he applies the prophecy of Isaiah
7:14 to the birth of the Lord! The name "Jesus" is linked to
Immanuel! Who is Immanuel? It is "God with us"! The coming son to be
born is God! God will be with mankind!
For the individual who invites and allows Jesus to come
within their heart has God within. No matter the stress, problems or fears that
they face they are not alone! God is with them! The promise of victory over
your enemies is yours if you will trust God! The wisdom of the flesh that begs
you to trust your own thoughts and strength is utterly nonsense. Your reliance
upon God during your trials is true wisdom. God's Word will be kept! God is with you! You will be victorious!
Your Response:
Take time to slowly read the scripture. Mediate on the words that
describe the coming One! Remember what He’s done for you in the past. He
has been with you always! You have made it through every trial because of Him. Pray that God will
give you the strength and determination to always trust Him!
Isaiah 7:14 (KJV 1900)
14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold,
a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:20–23 (KJV 1900)
20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of
the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear
not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of
the Holy Ghost.
21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is,
God with us.
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