Page 70 - Divinity_F5

Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

Shear-Jashub pointed to God’s love for Isaiah told Ahaz that before the son was
his people, saying that he would defend old enough to make his own decisions,
them even when attacked. Prophet the two kings who were worrying Ahaz
Isaiah told Ahaz not to be disturbed or would be deserted. Therefore, Ahaz just
intimidated by the invading army. He had to believe in God.
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told him to remain calm and alert. He
prophesied the end of the speedy threat On the other hand, Ahaz refused to
from Syria and Israel. He encouraged accept Isaiah’s message and to have
the king of Judah to have trust in God. trust in God. He went ahead and made
Isaiah assured Ahaz that the invaders’
plan would not succeed because those a treaty with the kingdom of Assyria
two kings were weak, and Israel would and paid tribute to Assyrian king Pileser
soon be defeated. Tiglath (2 Kings 16:7).

Isaiah told Ahaz to endure with faith, “If Ahaz sent silver and gold found in the
your faith is not enduring you will not house of the Lord as a gift to King Pileser
endure” (Isaiah 7:9). As proof of Isaiah’s to secure political protection against
prophecy, Ahaz was asked to ask for any Syria and Israel, which threatened Judah.
sign from God would serve as evidence As a result, God decided to punish him
that whatever Isaiah had said to king and the entire kingdom of Judah.
Ahaz would happen. However, Ahaz
refused on the grounds that he could not Symbolic names used by Prophet
put God to the test. This indicated that Isaiah
Ahaz had already decided to ally with Shear-jashub (Isaiah 7:3)
Assyria against Israel and Syria. On such issues of the King’s
disobedience, Isaiah gave a sign of
Since he refused to ask for a sign from the name of his son, “Shear-jashub”.
God, the Lord gave him the sign of It meant that God was about to use a
Immanuel. A young woman from his foreign nation Assyria to punish His
house would give birth to a baby boy people.
named Immanuel. This name meant that
“God is with us”. Thus, the presence of Shear-jashub is a symbolic name
God amid the Israelites was assured, and meaning “only the remnant shall
Ahaz did not have to worry. The name return”. The presence of Isaiah’s son

also means that God is a saviour for as he spoke to the king was a prophetic
those in trouble. It shows that God is the sign that King Ahaz should not fear as
ultimate protector of all sorts of people. there would be a speedy (fast) end to
the threat of Assyria. The name meant

Form Five Student’s Book 61