The Sign

 

 
Isaiah chapter seven gives valuable information concerning the status of Judah under the early years in the reign of Ahaz. Surrounding nations had allied themselves together to take Jerusalem – and, they had attempted a siege which was thwarted by God Himself. (II Kings 16.5) From a human perspective, things seemed quite dismal for the nation of Judah. Enemies were coming from several directions and it wasn’t safe to be found alone in the streets.
 
As a result, the people were filled with fear and unease. They feared for their nation’s safety and their own security. Worldly powers were just outside the gates fully intending to have their way with the people and the wealth.
 
Into that situation God sent His servant, Isaiah, with a message for Ahaz. The message had nothing to do with Ahaz’ merits nor his personal attendance in doing righteously. As a matter of fact, Ahaz did not follow the will of God as David had (II Kings 16), but pursued the practices of the pagan nations (I Kings 16.1-4). He was faithless at crucial times and did not trust the Lord to deliver him and Judah from their enemies (Isaiah 7.1-12), especially from Assyria. He brought in pagan altar styles into the Temple area (II Kings 16.10-20). Essentially, the only good he accomplished during his life was to father a righteous king named Hezekiah.
 
I find it amazing that it was during this time that God chose to send to this corrupt king a message of salvation; however, the situation was more about God and His promise to David than about a king who led people into evil practices. This was all about God’s protecting His reputation – His name. Having promised Ahaz that He would step in, God offered to give Ahaz a “sign.” In a hypocritically arrogant response, Ahaz feigned following the Law by refusing to “tempt” God by “asking” for a “sign.” He refused God’s offer.
 
Again, this wasn’t as much about Ahaz as it was about God’s honor – His name and His integrity. God had promised David that the kingdom would continue. God delivered Jerusalem from the siege, allowed Ahaz to reign for sixteen years; however, delayed the revelation of the Sign for about 700 years.
 
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4.4, 5)
 
One night, after 700 years of waiting, God made His move to reveal the Sign. He did so, not to an arrogant king who refused God’s help, but to a group of unsuspecting shepherds who were simply keeping watch over their flock by night. The angel of the Lord made quite a splash in the dark of night as he announced the coming of the Sign. The Sign would be a small baby, wrapped in the garments of the sacrificial lambs. He would not come with guns a-blazing because He did not come to rid the world of war (at least not at this particular time in history). He came to relieve the world of their sin.
 
We would be wise to remember that God seldom works according to our plans of timetables. He has His own agenda and works it perfectly to introduce this Sign to those in need of a Savior.