Immanuel

Introduction

Do you know the saying “you can’t see the forest for the trees.” It means being so caught up in the details that you can’t see the big picture. Many times it is the small details that capture our attention while we miss the bigger picture. ILL. “Perspective: The Bigger Scene.” Isn’t life really about perspective. It is difficult to see multiple perspectives. And when things are happening to us that challenge us emotionally then it gets more difficult to see another perspective.

We are studying today from Isaiah 7 and part of chapter 8. Let’s set the scene as it is depicted in 2 Kings 16:7-9. [Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. 9 The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death.] Isaiah 7 gives us an image. Ahaz is under pressure from the kings of Aram and Israel. Both are wanting to destroy Judah so that they can increase their land and fortunes. When we get to Isaiah 7, Ahaz, king of Judah has to make a decision. Seek outside help to ward off these attacks or trust God to take care of Judah’s enemies. According to 2 Kings 16, we know what Ahaz chose. He chose to pay for Assyria’s king to come to his rescue. So when we read a section from Isaiah 7 in a moment, you will know what is happening.

Trusting God means that we believe he sees the bigger picture even though we do not. Trusting God means that we not only believe but we act on that faith to accept God’s leading rather than fighting against him. We may think our perspective is right but we trust God who sees the bigger picture.

A Promise and a Sign

Isaiah comes to Ahaz to warn him not to do what he is thinking of doing. In Ahaz’s mind he cannot win the war against the kings of Israel and Syria. He has already lost some cities to these two. In fact, according to 2 Chronicles 28, he lost 120,000 fighting men in one day in a battle with Israel. Is it no wonder that he is more than nervous when these two kings come up against him again. It is only a matter of time before they take more. Isaiah knows that the pressure is on. Political and military pressure alone would be sufficient to cause a sleepless night or two, but it isn’t only political pressure that Ahaz is undergoing. There is a moral and spiritual pressure too. The armies gather. Ahaz has to decide. Go with Assyria; trust God. Go with what he sees or go with what Isaiah is offering that he cannot see.

Isn’t this the hard part of faith — trust what you do not see? Ahaz isn’t really torn. The language makes it obvious that he has already made up his mind. Isaiah is there to see if there is possibility that Ahaz is open to God’s perspective. What is God’s perspective? Look at verse 4. These mighty kings are compared to two smoldering stubs of firewood. Take two sticks away from a roaring fire and they smoke and smolder but they no longer produce fire.

God says look at how I see things and trust me. People will say that they are struggling in their faith. Good. The struggle means that you are still open to God’s perspective. But Ahaz isn’t open. He is already trusting Assyria. His mind is already made up and he doesn’t want to be confused by some offer that he cannot see. He lost 120,000 in one day. Where was God then? If God is so willing to help me, why didn’t he help me then? Why should I believe and trust a God that allows his kingdom to be destroyed? I’ll take the sure thing. For a price, Assyria will come. How do I know this?

Look at verses 11-13. Isaiah offers for Ahaz to ask God for a sign. Isaiah says God will give you proof if you ask him. Isaiah says to Ahaz, “Do you trust God enough to ask him for a sign?” Nothing is too big for God. Ask him. The offer is rejected. Why? Instead of seeking evidence, Ahaz appeals to piety. The evidence would have confirmed his faith. Evidence doesn’t create faith. If there is no faith, evidence is ignored or explained away. If you aren’t open to God then no amount of evidence will persuade you otherwise. So verse 13, God is going to provide a sign that he can be trusted but you will walk with Assyria rather than with God. Look closely at verse 13. Isaiah calls God “my God” not “your God.” The break is final.

This sign involves a baby. While this verse is quoted in Matthew 1:23 as a sign of Jesus’ birth, this sign is also for the present. A child is going to be born. Before the child is old enough to know right from wrong, the two kings that Ahaz is so worried about will be gone. This prophecy is both present and future. We would not know the future part without Matthew. The present part is fulfilled in chapter 8. Turn over to 8:3. Isaiah has a son. The promise is again renewed. Aram and Israel are going to fall before the child can say “daddy” or “momma.” Some time passes from chapter 7 to chapter 8. But the point remains the same. By the time Isaiah’s son comes into the world, Assyria destroys Aram and Israel and Assyria comes to Jerusalem. The very hand that Ahaz trusted is now going to be used to punish Ahaz. Look at 8:6-8. As Assyria infiltrates the people cry out “Immanuel.”

God With Us

We want guarantees in life. We want outcomes that make life pleasant, easy, and comfortable. We hear the message that we should pursue that which makes us happy and we filter that through our faith and begin to demand that God seek our happiness too. What did Ahaz want? He wanted things to work out on his terms and was not really interested in God. According to 2 Kings 16, Ahaz sacrificed his son to the god Molech in order to keep the pagan gods happy. After Assyria defeated Aram and Israel, Ahaz traveled to Damascus and saw the altar of Assyria there and was so impressed by it that he had it reconstructed in the temple and removed God’s altar.

But Ahaz went to the temple. He had sacrifices offered every day for the people. He went through the motions but he didn’t trust God. We talk a lot about trusting God. You are here because you want to do that. Going through the motions is easy enough. No one will know otherwise. Sometimes our language betrays us. I trust God but I don’t know if he can forgive me or if I can do enough. This is the language of doubt not trust. But then in many ways trusting God looks different for different situations perhaps. Not many of us have to prove politically or militarily that we trust God. Maybe we have to prove it financially or relationally. Maybe we give to God’s work because we trust him not the balance in our bank statement. Maybe we sever ties with people who pull us away from God trusting that he will bring people into our lives that he wants. Like Ahaz we find it difficult to trust God when you have already lost 120,000 fighting men or your bank account is running close to negative and the rent is due or when you are lonely and there are no relationships on the horizon. It’s hard to trust then and yet that is when trust is most needed.

Maybe we demand or expect that God will do something for us in order to convince us that we can trust him. We want a prayer answered a certain way or some guarantee. And it doesn’t happen and our faith is shaken. God can be trusted. God promised a child named Immanuel and according to Matthew 1:23, he came. God with us. Even Jesus in the garden had to learn to trust God. Begging for another way besides taking on my sin and yours. Pleading for an escape and when none came, he trusted that God would raise him from the dead.

As followers of Jesus in order for us to trust God we recognize that he has a view that we do not have. Nothing surprises God. He already knows your days and what is going to happen to you and as you trust him more and more he assures you that he is always going to be there for you. What about when things are not going well? He’s still there. Listen to him — Trust me. I know this is not easy. I know that you don’t want this. I’m doing something you can’t imagine.” And we shout, “Immanuel” — God come be with us. And God says “I’m always here. Trust me.” We try to see God’s view in all matters; otherwise, we come to believe he has no place in any matter. Trust me. “It’s hard.” I know. I watched my son take your sin and be buried. I know it’s hard. Trust me. I’m here. I’m at work. I haven’t forgotten you. Trust me. Prayer & Invitation.

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