It Starts Small

Isaiah 7 moves from Isaiah’s poetry about God’s coming judgment to focus on Israel’s history. It takes place during the reign of King Ahaz over Judah. Ahaz was the son of Jotham, who was son of King Uzziah.

Specifically, Isaiah 7 describes the period when the kings of Israel and Syria unite. They attempt to remove Ahaz from the throne of Judah. Remember at the start of our series we talked about how the kingdom was divided? This was that division. One going against another. Israel was the name for the nation comprised of the northern ten tribes of Israel. Judah was the name for the nation with the other two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Pekah was king of Israel at this time, and Rezin was king of Syria, also known as Aram.

Ahaz and the citizens of Jerusalem are terrified. They learn that Syria and Ephraim, another name for Israel, are coming to destroy Judah together. These two kings knew Assyria was coming to attack them from the east. They also knew that Ahaz was loyal to the king of Assyria. They hoped to defeat Ahaz before Assyria attacked so they didn’t have to fight both nations at once.

The Lord gives Isaiah a command when Ahaz and Jerusalem are weak with fear. Isaiah must go find King Ahaz at a specific place near the aqueduct. This aqueduct brings water into the city. Ahaz may have been attempting to secure Jerusalem’s water source ahead of a possible siege.

Speaking from the Lord, Isaiah tells Ahaz to be careful, to calm down, and to stop being afraid. He advises the king to maintain his courage. Many kings are coming to attack and attempt to put another man on the throne. Why? Isaiah puts the prophecy to poetry saying that the thing Ahaz is worried about will not happen. In fact, Israel will cease to be a nation within 65 years.

In short, the Lord tells Ahaz to stop being afraid and to be firm in his faith. The Lord even instructs Ahaz to ask Him for a miraculous sign. This serves as evidence that what He has said is true. Ahaz refuses, though, saying he will not test the Lord.

Ahaz’s response sounds good at first. But Isaiah knows it is because the king does not trust the Lord. Isaiah asks why Ahaz must weary God. Then Isaiah gives Ahaz a sign, anyway. The prophet tells Ahaz that a virgin will conceive and bear a son, whom she will call Immanuel. In the modern context, we know this prophecy is about Jesus, because Matthew confirms it.

²⁰ But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

²³ See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,

which is translated “God is with us.”

Matthew 1:20-23

Isaiah uses the birth of this child to communicate to Ahaz. This shows how quickly the Lord will bring about the destruction of Judah’s enemies. Before this boy knows how to discern good from evil, the lands of Israel and Syria will be deserted. In other words, the king of Assyria will defeat the two kings quickly. It will happen during the time it takes for a young woman to marry and have a child aged three years. This concerns Ahaz. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Assyrians will also bring great destruction on Judah.

The prophet tells Ahaz that when that day comes, the Lord will summon Egypt and Assyria. They will rain down destruction on Judah. Those enemy armies will cover the land like migrating swarms of insects covering everything in their path.

When these days come to pass, the Lord will use the king of Assyria as a razor. He will shave Judah hairless. This will further humiliate the people of Judah completely. The few who are left alive in Judah will have so much milk from so few animals. They will need to make curds with some of it just to keep it from going bad.

Finally, when that day comes, Judah’s grape industry will grind to a halt. There will be a lack of workers to tend the vineyards. The vines will become overgrown with briers and thorns. Those left behind will turn to hunting and herding instead of growing.

When we read this chapter, you cannot help but think about King Ahaz. What exactly was he thinking? Did he even realize that Isaiah was giving him the greatest news on earth? Did you see it? Verses 14 is a stanza in a well known Christmas song.

[Verse 1]
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

-O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Author and Composer Unknown

This song dates back to the 12 century. It was originally written in Latin. The original author and composer are unknown.

All of Israel was about to become captives, again. But there was hope. A real hope!

© Kimberlee Smith 2025 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.