CHRISTMAS IN JULY

His name was Ahaz;  he was king of Judah.

One day he got word that two kings had joined forces and were going to attack him;  they were Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel.

Isaiah 7:2 (LB) reports:  ...the hearts of the king (Ahaz) and his people trembled with fear as the trees of a forest shake in a storm.

The Lord sent Isaiah, the prophet, to king Ahaz to tell him to not be afraid.  (v.7)  This plan will not succeed.

But, God - who knows all things - saw that king Ahaz didn't quite believe Isaiah.  So God said:  (v.9)  You don't believe Me?  If you want Me to protect you, you must learn to believe what I say.

Then, in an effort to convince Ahaz, God said:  (v.11)  Ask Me for a sign, Ahaz, to prove that I will indeed crush your enemies as I have said.  Ask anything you like, in heaven or on earth.

Wow!  What a golden opportunity!  ...anything...in heaven or on earth!

• "God, let me visit Heaven for one hour!"
• "God, heal my sick friend or relative."
• "God, take away that mark on my neck!"
• "God, bring great wealth to my family."
• "God, make it rain on our vineyards."
• "God, give me a brand new chariot with chrome wheels and four-horse-power!"

(v.12)  But the king refused, "No," he said, "I'll not bother the Lord with anything like that."

WHAT?  Are you kidding?  What a fool!

But wait:  maybe God knew what He was doing.  Maybe God was orchestrating a bigger plan and simply using Ahaz's reticense to accomplish it. 

Then, Isaiah spoke for God:  (v.14)  All right then, the Lord Himself will choose the sign - a child shall be born to a virgin!  And she shall call Him Immanuel (meaning "God is with us").

And now you know THE REST OF THE STORY!

PS  -  God went on to promise that before this child was weaned, both Rezin and Pekah would be dead!  And so it was...