The Vision

We all come to a place in our lives when we realize we can’t save ourselves. We are forced to ask who will save us and how? Isaiah proclaims The Holy One of Israel’s justice against sin and rebellion, and The Holy One of Israel’s hope as the saving Messiah. Isaiah’s message is simple. Yahweh, The Holy One of Israel, is Judge and Savior; of His people (1-12), of the nations (13-27), of Jerusalem (28-39), while in exile, (40-48), as the suffering Messiah (49-55), and as LORD forever and ever (56-66).

Starter

Have you ever had an experience that was hard, but it seemed as if God was with you? explain

Pray

Lord we thank you that you are The Holy One of Israel. You are Holy perfect in all you do and worthy of our worship and obedience. We like Israel are the ones who wrestle with you, fight to see you, know that you always win, and understand you bless those you chose to bless. Thank you for for loving us, for forgiving us, and for restoring us. You are Immanuel, God with us. Help in our time together to better understand what Immanuel, God with us, really means. Amen

Study Questions

READ: Isaiah 6:9-13, Matthew 28:18-20

  1. After Isaiah was forgiven of his wickedness and his sin was atoned for, God asks, Who will go for Us? Isaiah responds with, Here am I. Send me. Then God tells Isaiah the difficult message Isaiah will speak. This message Isaiah is to speak is similarly repeated multiple times in scripture and is a message still for us today until the return of Jesus.
    1. Why is the reality of knowing that God is with us crucial if we are going to share the message God desires us to share?
    2. How can people be deceived in thinking God is with them and a message that they have when He is not?

READ: Isaiah 7:1-2, 2 Chronicles 28:1-6

  1. Why did Ahaz’s heart tremble? Why didn’t it tremble in fear of the Lord?
  2. Why was all of this happening to the people of God?
  3. Throughout history God has raised up nations to disciple and discipline His people. How might God still be doing that today?…in the future?

READ: Isaiah 7:3-9, 2 Chronicles 28:16-25, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

  1. What does Isaiah tell Ahaz to do in the midst of the chaos?
    1. What does Ahaz do? (see: 2 Chronicles 28)
    2. How does that work out?
    3. How do we (the church) often do the same as Ahaz in the midst of chaos?
    4. What should we do according to 2 Timothy 4:1-5?
  2. How are Paul’s words 700 years later to Timothy like Isaiah’s words to Ahaz?

READ: Isaiah 7:10-12, Matthew 11:9-10, 2 Corinthians 1:20, James 4:1-6

  1. Discuss why would Ahaz be so willing to test God by his wicked actions, but not test God as God asked?
  2. How do the verses in James help us to understand what was going on in Ahaz?
  3. What do all of these verses say about approaching and asking God?