Isaiah 7 – 11
This is the start of Isaiah’s prophecies of Jesus, the Messiah. Verse 7:14 is the first in Isaiah:
Suit yourself. The Lord will give you a proof-sign anyway: See, a young maiden will conceive. She will give birth to a son and name Him Immanuel, that is, “God with us.”
A “young maiden” implies a virgin, but apparently is not directly translated from the Hebrew. The Complete Jewish Bible, which is my “go to” for OT translations,also uses “young woman” and not virgin. That may have been translated to “virgin” in other translations to help clarify the significance (since at that time “young maidens” were virgins). Either way Mary fits the definition of this prophecy.
Look at other verses within this reading and you will see many prophecies that Jesus fulfills. Verses 9:1 & 2 are where Isaiah talks about Jesus’ Galilean ministry. Verses 9:7, 11:1 and 11:10 all talk about Jesus being from the throne of David. These were being told to Ahaz to ensure he understood the importance of maintaining the throne of David. So where Isaiah’s words ring so clear today, they were of utmost importance then. These words were not to only to encourage us today, but were also for encouragement to King Ahaz (granted what is happening to Ahaz is not necessarily good at the time).
Verse 10:15 reminds us that we are not the ones who get credit for anything we do:
But wow, are they ever mistaken! Assyria seems to think it has used God.
Can an ax take credit instead of the one who swings it?
Is a saw better than the one who uses it?
Only if a club or rod can move on its own.
This is really the key when you think of it. We are really not to take credit for anything. I just reread my blog on Creation vs Evolution and realize that was not me. I just was the conduit to attempt to explain where God is in play to an atheistic scientific community. Where did we get the skills? Where did we get the words? How did things happen the way they did? We are not in control of any of this, it’s more how we manage what we are given is the key.
Verse 10:33 reminds us to be humble:
But wait, look! The Lord, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, will protect you;
He will cut the arrogant and self-serving down to size.
With terrifying power He will prune Assyria’s branches,
hack down the high and mighty, and humble all those who think they’re so great.
Remember God will do as he promises and will always be faithful. I know when you are in the mire of life it doesn’t make sense, but clarity always comes at the back end. That is the key to peace and faith in God. I think of Kipling’s poem ‘If” which says “if you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs.” In the poem this was the measure of a man, while in life it’s our relationship with God. I can go on and on about life’s little “problems” that ended up being a blessing. One is the sale of our home in Buford. It unwound into a 6 month fiasco that was ugly and stressful. I actually remained calm for the most part and watched things unfold. The end we see it was actually better to delay the eventual sale since it appears the money that we would have left would have been squandered on improvements that may now be abandoned. Again we will see what’s on the other end, but my faith is that God is doing great things and the end is HIS will, not mine!!
We are just the jackass that is giving Jesus a ride – Pastor Kevin Queen