10.31.08
Posted in
General
| 19:52
Scripture: Isaiah 7:18 (NIV): "In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria."
Thought: To me, God is beautifully behind every movement and every gathering of all species of animals.
Question: Have I recognized God's "hand" in the cycles of nature?
"In that day"...a day of judgment and the due delivery of the consequences of idolatry, oppression, immorality, rebellion, etc. "...the LORD will whistle"...God commands nature. God orders the processes of nature. He is in complete control. He can summon adverse conditions to arrive from a great distance if He so chooses. Here the flies come from "the distant streams of Egypt." This is reminiscent of the Exodus plague of flies which was announced to Pharoah by Moses on the banks of the Nile river. It is believed those flies were multiplied near this source of water and were a species known as Stomoxys calcitrans. They were a biting fly to both animal and man--very unpleasant. God "whistles for" them...what a picture of His irritation at being rejected by Judah!
God has power over all the animals and over every migration and gathering of them worldwide. Do we believe this?
He also calls "for bees from the land of Assyria." This, too, is reminiscent of another time God used "bees": Exodus 23:28 tells of God's use of hornets to drive out the Canaanites from before the children of Israel as they took possession of the Promised Land. God is in control! God has His plans! And so across the miles God will bring an unexpected trouble. Both of these judgments are a foretaste of that greatest "Day of Judgment", the time of Jacob's Trouble also known as The Great Tribulation, when God will unleash many more horrible creatures than flies and bees! God can rally them to His purposes whenever He pleases.
Prayer: Omnipotent Father, You are awesome in Your power and wisdom! I bow before You and praise Your Name! I am glad that the God I worship is in full control of the world and all things in it! You created them all and they are Yours to command. Amen.
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10.30.08
Posted in
General
| 20:52
Scripture: Isaiah 7:17 (NIV): "The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah--he will bring the king of Assyria."
Thought: To me, it is the LORD Who opens the way for trouble to touch us.
Question: If I have ever had trouble, did I realize God allowed it?
Things are not so rosy for King Ahaz. He has rebelled against God's provision, God's "sign", and thus faces harsh judgment. Warning now comes of impending judgment. Judgment comes through those nearby who oppose Judah (Assyria). God always seems to work this way. Do we recognize God's judgments as coming from Him this way?: coming through nearby people, circumstances and events? "The LORD will bring on you...", anyone who snubs the Lord, that is, and rejects God's ways, "and on your people"...those who live with you will not be exempt from the trouble that may unfold during judgment. "And on the house of your father..." ... a direct reference to the Jews (the House of David), enlarging the area of effect to one's country and nation.
"A time unlike any" is descriptive of a precedent-setting event, more difficult than ever before, even worse than the awful split between Ephraim and Judah, where brothers and fellow Israelistes betrayed one another. And what is this awful difficulty? It is Assyria--the highly wicked nation whose methods of military conquest, torture and suppression were unequalled in horror and violence!
What a chill this must have sent down Ahaz's spine! Look out, Ahaz! Judgment is on its way! And Isaiah has fore-warned you--he has told you that "the LORD will bring" this upon you.
It is always with the LORD that we have to do...
Prayer: God of Judgment, I realize Your power and authority! I know You are behind every trouble that may come my way; maybe not creating it, but certainly allowing it to touch me. Make me teachable, Lord, and may Your purposes be fulfilled in what You elect to do in my life. Amen.
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10.29.08
Posted in
General
| 18:00
Scripture: Isaiah 7:16 (NIV): "But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste."
Thought: Judgment and tragedy often descend very quickly.
Question: Have I seen God acting swiftly on my behalf?
Matthew Henry, trusted and traditional Bible Commentator, states that this verse refers to "the boy" Isaiah the prophet brought with him to this meeting with Ahaz at "the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field." (Isaiah 7:3). This boy is "Shear-Jashub", Isaiah's own flesh and blood son. There has to be significance to Isaiah's bringing his son along with him, just as there has to be significance to the fact that God commanded Isaiah to bring him! This boy would still be eating a young "baby" diet of "curds and honey" and would remain too young to know right from wrong when Isaiah's prophecy would be fulfilled: "the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste." We find further support for this reasoning when we learn the meaning of this boy's name. "Shear-Jashub" means "the remnant shall return." This came to pass and was fulfilled when, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 28: 8 - 15, 200,000 captives were returned to Judah after being taken away by Kings Pekah and Rezin, rulers of the rogue Israelite brothers and of Syria.
At what age is a boy, or any child, old enough to "reject the wrong and choose the right"? Some call this "the age of accountability" and describe it as the age when a child begins to display the fact that he has a conscience, feels remorse for doing wrong, understands it is wrong to steal or hurt or lie, etc. I would imagine this age differs from child to child, but generally speaking, these two verses in Isaiah ( 7:15 and 16) are probably indicating an age of around 2 to 6.
But before this "age of accountability" is ever reached, God acts to rescue Judah and "lay waste" to Judah's enemy. Just as God is greatly merciful to provide the Savior (Immanuel) at some future point for all mankind, so He is merciful in the present moment to provide a timely end to Judah's suffering. God protects and provides for those He loves--those who also love and obey Him.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the accuracy of Your prophetic words through Isaiah, (and many other of Your prophets). Open our eyes to see what you want us to learn through these verses and all of Your Holy Scriptures. Amen.
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10.28.08
Posted in
General
| 18:00
Scripture: Isaiah 7:15 (NIV): "He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right."
Thought: To me, we need to remember that Christ was unique in the world from conception on.
Question: Do our children need to be taught how to sin?
This "Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14) shall be a discerning child at an early age. He will eat as commonly as other young babes, consuming "curds" (similar to yogurt) "and honey." He will not be raised supernaturally, but rather, in the ordinary way. Yet despite this ordinary upbringing and very young age He will come to "know enough." His wisdom will come at an early age and He will know "enough to reject the wrong and choose the right."
Our Lord Christ "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men," (Luke 2:52), as the New Testament gospels record. This verse in Isaiah is prophetic of that truth.
Prayer: Father of Christ, thank You for giving us Your one and only Son, and thank You that He was perfect on earth from conception, making Him so unique in wisdom at a very young age. I can trust in this kind of Savior! Amen.
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10.27.08
Posted in
General
| 19:10
Scripture: Isaiah 7:14 (NIV): "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
Thought: To me, when God does a thing, He does it right well!
Question: Do God's ways frustrate me or amaze me?
Look at what Ahaz refused to ask for!! (See previous blogs). Isn't that always the way it works? When we are closed to God and of an independent spirit, we are ultimately rejecting Jesus Christ. God wants to help us. He realizes He must intervene on our behalf; we can't make it on our "codes" alone. We need the Savior. We MUST accept Christ and depend on Him.
And so God generously gives "a sign" of His love: "the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son..." Not only do we have the well-known Messianic prophecy before all of us here, but we also have God's consolation for the Jews: information on the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, in the context of Ahaz's rejection of God's ability to conquer the "enemy." God has chosen to conquer our enemy through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Will we accept this way of doing things? Do we accept God's way of doing things?
God uses seemingly weak and unexpected, yet pure, vehicles to reach His goals. "A virgin" is selected: a "weak woman" yet holy and chaste. She shall be "with child": an everyday occurrence if one is married, but for an unmarried virgin in this age and culture it is completely unexpected and surprising! This brings Christ down to a humble level. "And will give birth": another somewhat weak entrance for the Godhead--why not rather descend spectacularly out of Heaven? Immediately the reason is given here: they "will call him Immanuel", that is, "God with us"--and how better for God to be "with us" than to begin the same way we all have?: born of a woman.
God's methodology is truly praiseworthy!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for being willing to give us a sign. Thank You for comforting and encouraging us with prophetic words. Thank You for choosing to stoop down humbly. Thank You for willingly giving Your only Son. Thank You for wanting to dwell with us and identify with us fully--to be born of a woman even as we all have been. Amen.
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10.26.08
Posted in
General
| 15:39
Scripture: Isaiah 7:13 (NIV): "Then Isaiah said, 'Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?' "
Thought: To me, we must often frustrate God with our horrible choices.
Question: Do I try the patience of God?
Ahaz, king of Judah, apparently irritated his "enemies" into aggression, "trying the patience of men." Now Isaiah becomes equally frustrated with Ahaz's response to God. Ahaz claims he doesn't want to "test" God but proceeds to do just that with his independent attitude! I think people who make poor choices person-to-person will also make poor choices in relating (or failing to relate) to God.
I like the way Isaiah identifies God as "my God"--intimating He is not the God of Ahaz.
Isaiah amplifies the "lesson" of the choice of Ahaz. How immature to 1) ignite battles between men and nations, and then also 2) "make war" against God by trampling over His kindness! If Ahaz is blind to his stupidity, that's one thing, but now Isaiah turns to warn the "house of David" (all Jews)--take wisdom from this Ahaz--do not imitate his behavior!
Prayer: Lord, prevent me from failing to see Your kindnesses! Open my eyes and heart to embrace You in faith. May I trust that You have good in mind for me always. Amen.
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10.25.08
Posted in
General
| 18:05
Scripture: Isaiah 7:12 (NIV): "But Ahaz said, 'I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.' "
Thought: To me, unbelief is at the root of most, if not, all sins.
Question: Have I ever told God "No!"?
This reminds me of Peter's response to God when he was given the vision of the sheet full of animals. God said, "kill and eat." But Peter drew from his own "law within", (be it Judaism or whatever, doesn't matter), and told God, "No!" Ahaz here does the same thing. His reasoning, or "excuse", is that he did not want to "put the LORD to the test." But if the LORD has invited the request in the first place, to shirk God's invitation is nothing less than to snub God's reaching out to you.
Who in their right mind would ever tell God "No"? Yet we do it all the time. We convince ourselves that our code is God's code, even to the degree that we close ourselves off to any "new invitation". In one sense we need to always remain open to truth that may be "new" to us but that comes from God. In another sense, as New Testament Christians, we need to be very cautious and scrutinize all "new invitations" to see where they originate, "trying" the Spirits. Scripture teaches the latter in many places, but never, to my knowledge, asks us to be close-minded. We are to be carefully open-minded to God's creativity with us. Ahaz closed himself down completely, stifling faith in God, and choosing to foster his own unbelief. He said he would not "put the LORD to the test", but what he actually did was fail the test of his own faith.
Prayer: Loving Father, as we read the record of Ahaz and his lack of response to You, may it ever stand as a lesson to us of the stifling coldness of the sin of unbelief. Amen.
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10.24.08
Posted in
General
| 18:04
Scripture: Isaiah 7: 10 & 11 (NIV): "Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 'Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.' "
Thought: To me, we often persist in earth-bound self-confidence when we could be supremely blessed by supernatural power.
Question: Is it all right to ask God for a sign?
Notice here that the LORD directly spoke to Ahaz. We have no doubt that these are God's words and God's invitation to "ask...for a sign." But didn't Christ condemn the Jewish leaders of His day who persisted in asking for signs? Yes, He did. But He was empowered to condemn them because He knew their hearts and motives. He also knew their religion thrived in unbelief. Here in Isaiah God is throwing out an opportunity of belief to Ahaz. Will he take it? The invitation is wide open and quite broad in range: "...whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." God is ever extending Himself this way: in pure vulnerability. What will Ahaz do? What will you do with God's open arms of invitation?
Prayer: Omnipotent God, You are so gracious to us! You would go to the highest heights or deepest depths to inspire faith in us. And You have! Thank You! Amen.
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10.19.08
Posted in
General
| 13:51
Scripture: Isaiah 7:9 (NIV): " 'The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.' "
Thought: To me, we often fear what "men" can do to us when we should be "fearing" the Lord.
Question: Am I standing firm in my faith?
These are only "men." The enemy is not so strong. Believe that there is another stronger force (God) Who decides who falls and who stands. Keep that faith.
In James 4:7 we are told to do two things: 1) submit to God and 2) resist the devil. We learn through James that when we do resist the devil he will turn tail and run away. To me, this verse in Isaiah is saying the same thing: "If you do not stand firm in your faith" ("submit to God"), "you will not stand at all" ("resist the devil.") You will fall into Satan's grasp and into his intentions. You will lose your upright position with God.
Isaiah calls Ahaz to faith. In opposition to faith would come unbelief. Ahaz needs to believe God will support him, defend him, help him and bring victory. Our part in keeping faith also involves not yielding up any "ground" for Satan, where a foothold can be created against God. Footholds for Satan are often begun in fear.
Prayer: God of Love, cast out my fear! Strengthen my unbelief! Conquer my doubts! Help me to stand firm in my faith in Christ, I pray. Amen.
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10.18.08
Posted in
General
| 13:00
Scripture: Isaiah 7:8 (NIV): "for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people."
Thought: To me, sometimes our behaviors do not reflect a trust in God's knowledge of the future.
Question: Am I depending on the leadership of men?
God knows the future. He allows it to comfort Ahaz through Isaiah now. We should also rest in God because He knows our futures.
Apparently "the head of Damascus is only Rezin" indicates that Rezin is no threat, or that he is only one in number and purpose, thus making him an easy foe to overcome. "Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people" is a prophetic statement. It doesn't paint a prosperous future for Ephraim, the greatly feared enemy, at all! God knows these things--we do not. We can trust God!
When we dialogue with God, as Ahaz does here through Isaiah, we discover how much God can minimize the threat of the enemy. Let us remain in an abiding presence with God--in that way our enemy will shrink in our eyes.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being utterly dependable! Help me not to place my trust in people, but rather in You, my Living Ruler. Amen.
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