A sign was given to Ahaz to point him toward the greater sign given in a manger and that Bethlehem’s Messiah is the sign we look forward to seeing in the sky when Jesus, our Emmanuel, comes again. This is a great text to take us one step deeper into trusting God during the season of Advent. First, some background information. The context for this section of scripture can be found in 2 Kings 16 where political and military trouble surrounds Ahaz in the year 735 BC. The Northern Kingdom together with Syria sought an alliance with Judah against Tiglath-Pileser III who was advancing with his Assyrian troops onto their lands. Israel had already suffered defeat from the Assyrians and knew they needed more help to resist them. So, with threats from the Assyrians and warnings that he had better capitulate to this coalition, Isaiah comes to offer Ahaz the most gracious alternate proposal from the Lord of hosts. Isaiah tells the king of Judah not to fear because of the small threats against him (7:4-9). Ahaz must choose between trusting in the Lord or in the armies and nations surrounding him.
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