Observe the Signs

False honor

Isa 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,
Isa 7:11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

Speaking through Isaiah, the LORD had promised to deliver Judah if Ahaz trusted in Him. Now he gives Ahaz an open door: ask for a sign to prove me and I will give it to you. This is the way the old testament Jews sought for proof.

1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

There should not be a need for a sign, but because of Ahaz' unbelief, God was willing to give him a sign. Is God showing us a sign or signs today?

The Jewish leaders asked for signs from Jesus too.

Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;...

Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
Mark 8:12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

Isa 7:12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

Oh how spiritual this sounds; but is disobeying God a spiritual thing? What a hypocrite; he never intended to obey God. A liar will say anything to make himself look good, but we must see what he does. His fruit follows him showing what he really believes.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

So many we witness to, pretend to want to know answers about God, but in truth they are just playing a game. They have already made up their mind, not believing or even blaming God, instead of coming to Him and obeying Him. God gave His Son, to redeem us from death and hell; yet many smugly refuse this, thinking themselves as clever, while trusting in lesser gods.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Jer 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

It is never clever or wise to disobey God. Hear him, study his word, pray and obey your God. Do not be as Ahaz, refusing His offer of deliverance. Ahaz was an idolater.

Sign of Immanuel

Isa 7:13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

Hear ye now, pay attention King Ahaz and also Judah, the house of David. Your unbelief wears out men, but will you make God weary too? Unbelief grieves the Holy Spirit of God.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

In our Internet chat rooms, negative unbelief or even worse false god worship, grieves the Holy Spirit. It cannot be allowed to continue, for it leads to division and strife.

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

You would not ask for a sign, but you and the house of David will be given a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Praise God! Through Isaiah, God speaks to the future coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was spoken some 700 years before he came, describing a miracle birth; a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. Also the name is given; Emmanuel, God with us.

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

This is a very important sign, given in the face of unbelief. Faith would be required to receive this promise. Faith that would mean salvation. Salvation is by faith in Emmanuel (Jesus), then and now.

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Isa 7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

There was no evil in Jesus, the son of God. He was the light and truth of the world.

John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

"...that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good."

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Isa 7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Before the coming of Immanuel, the land that you defile, king Ahaz, the land that God established for righteousness, you have turned into wicked idolatry. The land of Israel and Judah shall have both her kings removed. The kings and people would be removed to Babylon, only a remnant remaining. Your salvation will depart because you did not trust in the God of your people and Immanuel who shall come.

The LORD had offered Ahaz deliverance, if he would trust in him. Instead of receiving from the LORD Ahaz chose his own path, which resulted in destruction. Do we put our own plans ahead of God? In Christ we are in God's will; being yoked together with Christ, he carries our burdens and leads the way. If we break loose on our own, it will result in chaos. Follow the signs of God, the virgin birth, the cross and the resurrection. Observe the signs around you as the end is drawing near. It is no time to be walking in our own understanding, but a time to draw near to God and to yield to the direction of the mind of Christ.