Cole Community Church Growth Groups Leaders Guide Isaiah 7:1-8:22 Week of October 23, 2016 God with Us Introduction: Chapters 7-12 have been called the Book of Immanuel. Each of these chapters has verses that correspond with the message found in Isaiah 7:14 and shared in Matthew 1:23. This is in contrast to the sinful life and unbelief of Ahaz, the king of Judah. Isaiah was sent by God to turn Ahaz and Judah around and follow Him. Read Isaiah 7:1-9 The Call to Trust (Refer to 2 Chronicles 28:1-8) Background: Ahaz reversed the godly course that his predecessors had set by leading the nation into gross idolatry. He went so far as to offer his own children as sacrifices. For his wickedness, God allowed an alliance of Syrians and Israelites to invade Judah in an effort to depose Ahaz. Ahaz had sent all the silver and gold from the Temple as a security payment to Assyria, an ancient empire considered the symbol of terror and tyranny in the Near East for more than three centuries. The war against Judah took a terrible toll. Read 2 Chronicles 28:1-8. The armies were now headed to Jerusalem. Ahaz and his couriers are shaken by the wind with the invasion from the North. The Lord told Isaiah to take his son Shear-Jashub (which means only a remnant will return ) and confront Ahaz as he is looking over the city s water supply just outside the city walls. The child s name further confirms the thought in Isaiah 6 when God gave Isaiah the awareness that the only hope for the future was in a remnant. From the beginning of God s judgement he planned to restore a remnant of his people. This son s name was a reminder to the people of God s faithfulness to them. 1. What are the two smoldering stubs of firewood referring to and what is the meaning for Ahaz if he truly listened to Isaiah? What is Isaiah telling Ahaz in verse 4? Isaiah is referring to Rezin of Damascus, Syria and Pekah of Samaria (capital of Israel), as these two forces are really not able to do anything to Jerusalem. They are like stubs of smoldering firewood.
Bible commentator J.N. Oswalt shares that Isaiah addresses the king s fearfulness, telling him that is not necessary. He uses no less than four different terms in verse 4 to address this fear. The king must keep watch ( be careful ) over his emotions ( keep calm ) and not be afraid ; fear should not cause his heart, the center of thought, will and action, to grow weak ( lose heart ). Rezin and Pekah are not a threat. Ahaz has to put his faith in God and what God has said through Isaiah. If he will firmly believe in God, he can stand in quiet confidence no matter how desperate the circumstances appear. 2. What is the message from Isaiah to Ahaz in this section? Does that message apply to us today and if so, how? Read 2 Chronicles 20:20 Isaiah has come to plead with Ahaz that he can chose to act faithful to God and experience the blessing of God both on his own life and on the life of his kingdom. The message is God is with us. God is in control. The opposite is the tragic consequences of trusting our worst enemy while leaving the transcendent God out of the equation for our life. If we chose to live in that obedient covenant relationship with Him, we fear nothing. Read Isaiah 7:10-25 The Sign of Immanuel Background: God then asks Ahaz to name a sign to prompt his faith. God through Isaiah is pulling out all stops to move the Judean king to faith.
3. What is Ahaz s reaction to this request and why? How does that talk to us today? Ahaz in piety shares that to ask God for a sign would be a test to God, something forbidden in the Torah. But in fact, God had asked for the test. Ahaz simply did not want to know what God would say as he had gone his own stubborn way and did not want God to confront him about his agreement with the Assyrians and his unbelief. Oswalt shares Ahaz demonstrates a profound truth: Piety is not the same as faith. Piety is the appearance of religion while trust in God is the substance of religion. Ahaz does not have the substance and tries to cover this up with a veneer of appearance. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for the same sin.. 4. So what does God do next? What is the meaning of the sign God gives Ahaz? Read Matthew 1:23 which is a quote from Isaiah 7:14. God gave Ahaz a sign anyway hoping to get his attention. So Isaiah sharply spoke hear now, you house of David! It is not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of God also? Isaiah shares the birth of Immanuel. The name Immanuel means God with us. Jesus was called Immanuel, God with us in Matthew seven centuries later. It was a promise to the House of David (including Ahaz) that Judah would have a future, in perpetuity through Jesus. Had Ahaz and the people believed, would Judah have been later spared? Stedman shares that the verse at the end of the chapter has two meanings. First the One born of the virgin whose name would be Immanuel. And a second sign to an unbelieving king concerning the invasion of Assyria during which his only comfort would be derived from the name of Isaiah s son, a remnant shall return. (7:3)
Read Isaiah 8:1-10 God is With Us Background: The future is further described in Isaiah s other son, who is named Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz which means The spoil speeds and the prey hastens. This child s name was written down even before he was conceived as evidence of predictive prophecy. The name gives a picture of the consequences of Ahaz s unbelief. 5. What is Isaiah saying in verses 8:9-10. How would that apply to us today with all the turmoil in this country and this world? According to Oswalt, Verses 6-10 encapsulate Isaiah s (and God s) perspective on history. The nations come and go at God s command and serve his plan being worked out through his people. Oswalt goes on to say, If they think they can wipe out his people in order to achieve their own geopolitical goals, they are mistaken, because God is with his people and will achieve his goals with them, regardless of what any other nation on the face of the earth does. The fulfillment of Immanuel sign can also have a negative aspect. Because Israel and Judah have rejected the Lord, the gently flowing waters of Shiloh in favor of Assyria, the River (Euphrates) that mighty river will all but drown them. Those small, placid waters of Shiloh which fed Jerusalem will destroy what seemed so great in the Euphrates in God s timing. As Oswalt shared, God s weakness is greater than all human strength. The Assyrians would be allowed to overrun the land until Immanuel would provide deliverance. Isaiah shares that Judea can plan and make strategies but it will be for naught, as God is with the Assyrians for they are the instruments of God s judgement. The Judeans in all their planning left out one tiny but huge factor God himself and His will.
Read Isaiah 8:11-22 The Lord of Hosts Background: At the time of this prophecy, the combined armies of Israel and Syria had destroyed much of Judah. Their armies either encircled Jerusalem or were on the way. 6. How can Isaiah and Judah prepare for the invasion? How does that apply to us today? Do not settle your heart or mind on conspiracies and threats. Let God be your fear. Do not see yourself at the mercy of opposing armies. You are in God s hands. Worry about your place with the Lord He will be a sanctuary, our sacred place and a place of protection, a place of peace no matter what is happening around us. For those who do not trust him, he will be a stumbling stone or rock of offense. They will trip over him falling to destruction. Prepare by waiting on the Lord. Be totally attentive to the Lord, focused on His every move and responsive to His every desire. Bind up the testimony, seal the law. Waiting on the Lord is connected with time in His Word. Prepare by seeking His light and word, not the darkness of the occult. Go to God s Word. Put your trust in Him. 7. What is Isaiah asking the people and us today to do? Read Matthew 10:28, Romans 8:28, 1 Peter1:15-16, 1 Peter 2:6-8, 1 Peter 3:13-17, Psalm 119:115, Deuteronomy 18:10-12 bb