This week’s lesson is such a great reminder to all of us especially in times when are faith in God grows weak

and sometimes we neglect Gods ultimate plan for our lives. According to the previous lesson we can clearly
see how God is a God of mercy and grace. He even appeals and invites us to trust Him even though we
sometimes harden our hearts and minds to his calling. God revealed in a prophecy, that the plan of Israel and
Syria would not succeed and that these countries would be destroyed. God even told king ahaz, If you do not
stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Isaiah 7 9

King Ahaz sadly did not respond in faith to God’s first appeal. So God in His mercy gave Him another chance.

According to chapter 7 verse 14 of Isaiah, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the
depth or in the height above. King Ahaz was invited to ask for an extraordinary sign, without limit. “Here was
one of the greatest invitations to faith ever given to a human being.” But King Ahaz is not even willing to allow
God to help him to believe. He was more determined to ask help to the king of Assyria rather than to God.

But God never stopped their despite King Ahaz’s refusal to ask God for a sign, God took this as an opportunity
to do the extraordinary. Verse 14 says Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: ahaz declines because
His heart and His motives are in a very bad place but the lord says listen, whether you want it or not, Im gonna
give it to you and I will decide the sign I will give you. What is this sign?

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. This Hebrew name means
God is with us.

There is no stronger assurance, hope and comfort, than this promise that God has given. He promised us that
though we may face hardships and sorrows in life He says that He will always be with us

But in our lesson it suggest that there are several possible signs in the old testament that could point out the
fulfillment of the prophecy.

1. The prophecy referred to the son of Isaiah Because the word for “young woman” refers to a young
woman of marriageable age, many assume she is a married woman living in Jerusalem, perhaps the
wife of Isaiah.
2. King Hezekiah son of Ahaz could be the Immanuel but no accounts can surpass the description of the
Immanuel to king Hezekiah base on chapter 9 and 11 which says

The final fulfillment and application of the sign is in the New Testament and it is in Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:21–23

21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name 8Jesus, cfor He will save His people from their
sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23
d“Behold, 9the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is
translated, “God with us.”

In spite of the lack of trust by the kings of Israel and Judah, and by its people, God fulfilled His purposes.
Prophet Isaiah’s message was to assure king Ahaz that Gods purposes cannot be stopped. We are all standing
in this same situation God has already shared His plans and promises in our lives. It is up to us whether we
trust Him or not.

God invites us to put our trust in Him. We may face challenges in lives and we feel the world is falling apart,
God is right by our side waiting for us to place our hands in His’ because He knows the plan that is best for us.

So whenever storms rage our lives always remember my dear brothers and sisters that He is Immanuel God is
with us. Good morning