Ask A Sign For Yourself From the LORD

As Isaiah was standing with his oldest son Shear Jashub, discussing the Word from the LORD with King Ahaz by the conduit of the Upper Pool, the LORD spoke again to Ahaz. "Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God," He said, "Make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven." This was only the second time recorded in the Bible that God gave an open ended invitation to ask Him for whatever he desired, the first time being to King Solomon. God had granted that request, so God would have granted this one also. But Ahaz just was not feeling that, so he refused to ask anything of God.

"I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!' he exclaimed. The LORD heard the words of Ahaz and gave His own response. "Listen now, O House of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of My God as well? Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. For before the boy will know enough to reuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken."

Ahaz was looking north, to where the kings of Aram and Israel had retreated to encamp in the forest of Ephraim. They had tried to beseiged Jerusalem but had been unsuccessful. Ahaz was right to fear the enemies that had come against Judah, which God had allowed due to their sin. This was a test of faith for King Ahaz to show what kind of man he would be. Would he trust the LORD like his father and grandfather, or would he be unfaithful like the kings of Israel? Time would tell. He had already refused a direct command from God to ask Him for a sign, so God had offered a sign anyways. A young virgin, probably Ahaz's wife, would bear a son, and by the time that boy was old enough to choose between good and evil, God said those kings would be gone. What a promise of deliverance from the enemy that was!

A secondary fulfillment of that prophecy would be fulfilled in Jesus. He would be born of a virgin and be called Immanuel, which means "God with us." Jesus would be God who took on flesh and dwelt among us. He would be the Savior of the World. Isaiah foresaw that, but none of those present would live long enough to see that happen, for it would be 700 years until it occurred. 

The LORD was not done with His Word yet. For He was preparing a greater enemy than Israel and Aram to come and take them down. The Neo Assyrian Empire had been rising in power since the days of Adad-nirari II, but it was their present king Tiglath-Pileser III who was really pushing their power grab to the west. He had already conquered Arpad, and was headed towards Gaza and the border of Egypt. Judah, Moab, and Ammon were on his list of city states to subdue, with the prize of Israel and Damascus awaiting to be toppled. All of this was in fulfillment of the Word of the LORD against Israel for their continual sins against God. 

The LORD said, 'The LORD will bring on you, on your people, and on your father's house such days as have never come since the days that Ephraim separated from Judah, the King of Assyria.' In these words, God was telling Ahaz that he would see this happen soon. Assyria would come and conquer Israel and Damascus, but Judah would also experience the hand of Tiglath-Pileser III against them. God then went on to explain how He would bring the flies from Egypt and the bees from Assyria to the land of Judah, and they would settle in the ravines, ledges of cliffs, on the thorn bushes, and all the watering places. They would experience the calamity promised by Moses and Joshua when Israel entered the land of promise. Judah would be humbled by their enemies. 

God's Word to Ahaz was a word of deliverance, but also a word of warning. If he trusted God, there would be mercy, but if he tested the LORD, then only a remnant would remain in the land. The flocks and herds would be reduced. People would eat curds and honey. Once beautiful vineyards would become briar patches. Cultivated land would become a wilderness. The call of Isaiah promised that Isaiah would preach to people who would not understand until these things happened. He took that to heart so much that he named his son Shear Jashub, "A Remnant Would Remain." His presence at this meeting with Ahaz was a prophecy against Judah. Isaiah and his whole family would be signs against Ahaz and Judah, reminders of the promised Word from God that would indeed be fulfilled completely.