Message to Leaders

     Sometimes God has messages for certain people, but through those messages we can all learn something.  In this chapter God reached out to King Ahaz, but it is a message for every leader.  The message is don't put too much stock into who you are and what you have.  It is more important to follow His guidance and do right by the people in which you lead.

    Once upon a time, Jerusalem was undefeatable and indestructible.  They were protected by God as His chosen people.  He gave them safety and security as a gift for their obedience.  However, once they decided that God was only a figure head and they could run their own lives, they lost everything that mattered in their world.  They turned from God and became vulnerable.  The worst part is that they didn't even see it.

    God ordered Isaiah to confront King Ahaz about all his enemies who wanted his territory.  Ahaz was an unsure and fearful king because of the political atmosphere of the time.  Isaiah basically asked him if he was going to trust people or God.  God gave Ahaz the option to ask for a sign.  Ahaz decided to accept this news and trust God.

    God gave Isaiah the premotion of Jesus' birth for the hope of the ultimate leader and to give Ahaz a little taste of what life with faith could look like.  This was roughly 700 years before He was born.  They called Jesus, Immanuel.  Immanuel would bring true conviction and open the people's eyes.  The humble would live contentedly, but those who thought they did not need God would suffer.

    Here we learn a little of what Immanuel's childhood was like.  It is the first mention of being born to a virgin.  These are the prophecies that Jesus had to fulfill to be Messiah and He fulfilled them all.  

    This is the beginning of why the people thought that Jesus would be a ruler that would change everything instead of a humble man in the back ground changing everything.  Jesus did teach us how to be a leader.  It just is not the glorious picture that we would like.  A good leader is in service for their people, not the crown and glory.  He gets that in Heaven.  On Earth it was solely for us.

Isaiah 7