Fuller's Field

 

3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;

4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. . .

10 Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying,

11 "Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above."

12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!"

13 Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will 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.

     Isaiah 7:3-4, 10-14 (NKJV)

 We are now in the season of Advent and the Immanuel prophecy is a key verse cited in describing the coming of Christ.  The prophecy is amazing in it’s accuracy and detail, as well as the incredible truth that God would come in the flesh to be with us. But it’s also surprising to realize that this prophecy was revealed to Ahaz, a wicked king of Judah (see 2 Kings 16:3-4).

 Despite his idolatry and wickedness, the Lord was gracious to assure Ahaz that this enemy alliance would not prevail against Judah.  And despite knowing that Ahaz was a godless king, God encouraged him to ask a sign from the Lord, perhaps to stir up his faith. But Ahaz refused and said he would not test the Lord.  The Bible does prohibit the testing of God (Deut. 6:16), but that was not at issue here.  Instead, this seems to be a pious pretense by Ahaz, maybe to justify his resolve not to do God’s will but to persevere in his own plans.  In light of this refusal, the Lord then proclaimed the extraordinary sign of His choosing.  

 

This account highlights the inscrutability of God. We may not understand why God used a wicked king to pronounce such a wonderful prophecy, but we’re merely called to believe and have faith, unlike Ahaz.

 

Immanuel, God with us. Do you believe? Is He with you?