When We Are At Our Worst God Is At His Best

Having recalled Isaiah's calling in the Temple vision in chapter 6 we move back to the narrative of his mission. Now he has been commissioned by God to speak to a people who will not hear. Yet there are a few moments when they will feign religious observance. Isaiah 7 is one of those moments. 

Isaiah 7:1–2 (ESV) In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

What brings them to hear? They are surrounded by their enemies. Ahaz's heart is shaking and the people's heart is shaking and the nation looks defeated. Ahaz, we might remember is a wicked king. Notice what 2 Kings records about him. 

2 Kings 16:2–4 (ESV) Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, as his father David had done, 3 but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

Ahaz practiced the vilest actions of any king before him.  He sacrificed his children and spread idolatry everywhere. No wonder God was going to judge these people. 

Yet even in this moment of distress, God offers hope!

Isaiah 7:3–4 (ESV) And the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.

Do not fear these nations, God says through Isaiah. They are as good as burned up before the eyes of God. Then Isaiah offers Ahaz an incredible moment:

Isaiah 7:10–12 (ESV) Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”

Think of this. God wants to give Ahaz assurance He will act on his behalf. And he lets Ahaz request a sign! But Ahaz, being the dead religious person he is feigns spirituality here saying he doesn't want to "test" the Lord. 

And then this famous Christmas passage:

Isaiah 7:13–14 (ESV) And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This passage is quoted every Christmas to refer to Christ's birth. Rightly so, for it has ultimate fulfillment in Mary's belly. But before it ever was about Mary it was about the hope that even in the darkest moments of our lives, God is still looking to save us.

Are you as bad as Ahaz? Unless you've killed your kids, the answer is no. So what makes you think God cannot forgive you? Moreover, what makes you think God doesn't WANT to forgive you? He does. He will. Because when you are at your worst, God is at His best.