King Ahaz and all of Judah were terrified when they heard the news that Aram and Israel had made an alliance and were attacking them. But at this time, the word of the Lord came to them: "Do not be afraid! Do not lose heart!" In the Lord's sight, Aram and Israel were no more than two smoldering stubs of sticks. All Judah could see was the fierce anger and large armies of their enemies. This was nothing to the Lord. As to the invasion of Judah, the Lord promised, "It will not happen. It will not take place." The Lord told Ahaz to ask for a sign, but he refused. He didn't ask because he didn't have faith in God. If we don't have faith in God, we will not stand at all.

To the unbelieving Ahaz, God, in his mercy, promised two things. First, since Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, the Lord gave one himself. The sign was Immanuel, God with us. God would give himself to his people when he sent his Son Jesus to be born of a virgin and would be God with us. God also promised to send the Assyrian army in his time to destroy the enemies of Judah. Even though we don't deserve rescue by our God, he rescues us in Jesus.


Application: Father, thank you so much for your Son. Thank you for sending Immanuel, God with us, even though we don't deserve it.
One Word: Immanuel: God with us