11th Dec 2023 - Waiting for Ruin

In its original context, the verse about the virgin giving birth is NOT about Jesus. Let me explain. The challenge for any political leader is to know which powers to align yourself with. Ahaz, King of Judah, was anxious about the threat of attack from Aram and Israel (vv1–2). So God sends Isaiah to reassure Ahaz that those two countries are spent as powers, and not to worry (vv3–9). Ahaz only needs to trust in God.