Slices
Prepare
Sit quietly for a few moments, take a deep breath and then think about one thing you long for God to say to you today. If you have pen and paper to hand, why not write it down?
Bible passage
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.’
12 But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’
13 Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah – he will bring the king of Assyria.’
Explore
On 11 August 1999, I was 16 and excited by the solar eclipse. We were on holiday in France, where it was almost total. I remember the sudden cold as the moon covered the sun, and making a camera obscura so we could see it without looking at it directly. But what did I see? Did I see a total eclipse or a shadow of one?
Something like that is going on in our passage today. Is the sign in verse 14 about Jesus? Of course not. It’s about the possible invasion of Judah by Assyria. And yet it definitely is. Matthew 1:23 says Jesus’ birth fulfilled this ancient prophecy.
The young woman giving birth to a son was a sign to Ahaz that the danger Judah was facing would be over soon (v 16). But at the same time it was pointing to something greater: the deliverance of God in Jesus – just as the shadow I watched of the eclipse pointed to the real eclipse happening thousands of miles away.
Respond
What did you write as you prepared for today’s reading? Take a look, then read verse 14. Whatever is going on, however you feel, the sign of Immanuel means God is saying, right now, ‘I am with you.’ How can that make a difference to you this week?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Corinthians 3; Revelation 15
Pray for Scripture Union
Earlier this year, we changed our warehousing and distribution supplier for our printed products. Thank God for positive working relationships with the new company and pray that smooth working relationships and operations will continue.