It doesn't get any plainer than this"
I don't suppose any Jew could misunderstand that Isaiah was telling them that Jehovah would come to dwell in Israel and that He would be born of a virgin. It is interesting that the Lord gives this distant event as a sign to the Jews that Isaiah's more current and pressing prophecies were inspired and would come to pass. I would think it should be the other way around. Perhaps the Lord and Isaiah had given up on that contemporary generation and knew that as these rebellious, chosen children perished in wars and famines they would arrive on the other side needing an awareness of the blessed relief of suffering the Savior could offer them. Perhaps, then, they would believe.14 Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign—Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
3 comments:
10 Moreover, the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying:
11 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depths, or in the heights above.
12 But Ahaz said: I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.
I appreciate Ahaz faith. The Lord offers him a sign, but he refuses. That is pretty awesome faith.
2 Nephi 17:10
10 Moreover, the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying:
11 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depths, or in the heights above.
12 But Ahaz said: I will not ask, neither will I atempt the Lord.
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?
Unfortunately, when when Ahaz refuses to ask the Lord for a sign, his refusal is an indication of his lack of faith, since the Lord has "instructed" Him to ask for the sign. Thus, when Ahaz refuses to ask for the sign which the Lord has actually desired to give to him, the Lord says, "Hear ye now, O house of David; is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?" Ahaz' biggest problem here is that he doesn't trust the Lord. That lack of trust will cause grave consequences for Judah, and so this is a prophecy not only for Judah, but for the House of Israel down the line and into our day as well. Fortunately, for Ahaz, for Nephi's descendants and for us, the child mentioned in this verse will make an atonement for all of our collective sins and rebellions.
Not to worry, Di. This is a confusing verse because the Lord usually asks us NOT to seek for a sign. Unfortunately, Ahaz has a difficulty trusting the Lord in general. The Lord has asked him, through Isaiah, not to make an alliance with Assyria so Judah can foil the alliance between Syria and Ephriam, but Ahaz allies Judah with Assyria anyway. This alliance causes great problems down the line for Judah. The Lord has thus been "wearied" by Ahaz and so gives him the sign he refuses to ask for anyway.
This sign gives Judah hope down the line even though Ahaz refusal to trust the line puts them in great jeopardy during his reign.
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