Isaiah 7-12 Introduction: Who Do You Trust?
After Isaiah’s calling story, we get the first of his prophecies rooted in a historic occasion during his life. Chapters 7-12 come during a specific time in history, where Isaiah has occasion to deliver messages from God to people for their day. In this case, God sends Isaiah to King Ahaz, Uzziah’s grandson.
The historical context is important. At its most basic, Israel and Judah faced renewed threats from the Neo-Assyrian Empire with the rise of Tiglath-Pilesar III. Judah, in particular had to decide, would they resist Assyrian influence or embrace it? Neither option was great. If they resisted Assyria by joining neighboring kingdoms, they faced destruction. If they instead decided to cooperate with Assyria and hope for a good deal, their neighbors would become threats.
Isaiah’s message to Ahaz summed up is, do not trust any nation nor earthly power. Rely on God and trust Him to protect you.
This is an important continuing message for God’s people down through history to the present day. We are constantly faced with threats in life. As individuals, churches, peoples and nations. If we say that we are God’s people and that we trust Him, we need to live as if we actually believe that. Instead, we are constantly presented with false idols promising to give us what we need: protection, fulfillment, nourishment, belonging, etc. Any time we look to and trust someone other than God, we elevate them into God’s place in our lives. This is foolish in two ways:
First, no one can provide for our needs the way God does. All of their promises are empty and unfulfilling.
Second, when we look to others instead of God, not only will they fail us, but we risk putting ourselves outside of God’s plans and protections.
This is what Isaiah’s message to Judah and Israel is going to be all about in chapters 7-12, and it also is the same message God has for us today.
The historical context is important. At its most basic, Israel and Judah faced renewed threats from the Neo-Assyrian Empire with the rise of Tiglath-Pilesar III. Judah, in particular had to decide, would they resist Assyrian influence or embrace it? Neither option was great. If they resisted Assyria by joining neighboring kingdoms, they faced destruction. If they instead decided to cooperate with Assyria and hope for a good deal, their neighbors would become threats.
Isaiah’s message to Ahaz summed up is, do not trust any nation nor earthly power. Rely on God and trust Him to protect you.
This is an important continuing message for God’s people down through history to the present day. We are constantly faced with threats in life. As individuals, churches, peoples and nations. If we say that we are God’s people and that we trust Him, we need to live as if we actually believe that. Instead, we are constantly presented with false idols promising to give us what we need: protection, fulfillment, nourishment, belonging, etc. Any time we look to and trust someone other than God, we elevate them into God’s place in our lives. This is foolish in two ways:
First, no one can provide for our needs the way God does. All of their promises are empty and unfulfilling.
Second, when we look to others instead of God, not only will they fail us, but we risk putting ourselves outside of God’s plans and protections.
This is what Isaiah’s message to Judah and Israel is going to be all about in chapters 7-12, and it also is the same message God has for us today.
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