Isaiah 7:1-25.  We want to keep in mind the reflective or chiastic layout of chapters 2-12 of Isaiah.  In chapters 2-4 we saw Isaiah challenging the people about their selfish lifestyles.  In chapter 5 they were warned that God would not put up with their disobedience forever.  In chapter 6 Isaiah was rededicated in his job to confront the people of Jerusalem and Judah, the southern kingdom.  Chapters 7-8 now returns to the destruction of Judah.  What was theory before is now becoming a reality.

Isaiah identifies Ahaz as the king of Judah.  The enemies are identified too, Rezin and Pekah.  Rezin was the king of Aram (Syria) and Pekah was the king of the northern kingdom, Israel.  In 734 BC Assyria (a rising power to the east of Israel in wht is modern Iraq) sent troops to areas both north ans south of Israel and Judah, mostly along the Mediterranean coast.  Israel (the northern kingdom) and Aram (Syria) were getting nervous and expecting Assyria to return and invade them in the near future and were looking for Ahaz to make an alliance with them to fight Assyria.  Ahaz on the other hand was pro Assyria, or at least was in favor of making peace with them.  In response to his rejection of the alliance Rezin and Pekah invaded Judah, they intended on putting a man named Tabeel on the throne in place of Ahaz.  The war lasted from 734-732 BC and is called the Syro-Ephraimite War. It was around this time that Jotham, Ahaz father and co-king died leaving Ahaz as the supremem ruler of Judah (2 Kings 15:37-38).  Ahaz suffered great losses in the war with 120,00 troops killed in one battle and 200,000 people taken captive (2 Chronicles 28:6-8).  Interestingly the captives were released back home when God intervened (2 Chronicles 28:9-15).

Isaiah warned Ahaz that the alliance would not be able to remove him from the throne and that he should trust God.  Ahaz was not in the habit of trust in Yahweh (see 2 Chronicles 28:1-4).  In fact 2 Chronicles 28:5 tells us that the initial defeat in the war was a judgment from God for his unfaithfulness.  It would seem that the return of the captives was a sign from God if His good will toward Ahaz in spite of Ahaz’ unfaithfulness.  God actually offeerd Ahaz more proof when Isaiah told Ahaz to name his miracle, what ever sign from God he wanted to prove that he could trust God to protect him and his kingdom. Ahaz’ fake response was that he would not test God (Isaiah 7:12).  Iaiah saw through Ahaz’ false (v. 13) and God supplied the sign but the sign would not be good.  A certain child was in view who would eat “curds and honey” (v. 15).  Verses 21-25 discuss the destruction which is going to come upon Judah because of Ahaz’ refusal to trust God to save the kingdom.  In verse 22 again we see the eating of “curds and honey”.  Curds are unfinished cheese and honey is a food gathered from the wild.  John the Baptist ate locusts and honey because he was living on the edge of society.  The idea here is “fast food”, food eaten in a hurry or on the run, this is quite a contrast from the kingdom that was all peace and security with big houses and parties that had existed under Uzziah and Jotham.  The sign that God could have cared for Ahaz’ kingdom would be a particular boy eating in the midst of a culture falling apart.

According to 2 Chronicles 28:16 Ahaz blew off Isaiah’s advise and made a pact with Assyria.  Ironically Isaiah 7:17-20 Isaiah warned Ahaz that Assyria would be the real oppressor in his life.  It would be Assyria who would destroy make his kingdom poor.  Historically we know that Assyria did return.  They conquered the northern kingdom and Aram and laid siege to Judah.  They never took Jerusalem though, but that is another story.

For me there are two things I want to take from this story so far.  First I want to remember that the structure focuses back on chapter 6 and the last verse of chapter 6 reminds me that the stump of the tree would again grow.  That verses tells me that the “holy” seed is the stump.  People dedicated to God will survive.  The second thing from today’s reading is from verse 4.  Isaiah told Ahaz to be careful (the word means to be watchful or observant), to be calm, to have no fear, and to not lose heart.  It is easy to let the things in life scare us into certain actions, actions that seem reasonable.  Ahaz sent money to keep the Assyrian king off his back and to get the alliance off his back too, seems reasonable, but God told him not to do it.  If we are dedicated to God he will protect us.  That does not mean that trouble will not come it just means that we will ultimately grow.  Job suffered but he kept his eyes on eternity (Job 19:26).  By the way , Isaiah’s sons name means “a remnant will return”, could this have been talking about the 200,000 returned by the alliance?  Would that have made Shear-jashub a sign?  God help me look and see what you are doing.  Help me see the signs of your work that are in front of me.  Help me be calm.  Help me not fear.  Help me not loose heart.  God help me see and do.  Keep me faithful.