Trading God (Isaiah 7:17-9:7)
Today, we will inspect a revelation that will challenge us, that will shake the very core of our faith and how we live it out. As we open Isaiah’s prophecy, we might be inclined to roll our eyes and struggle to see the significance. You see, it's so easy for us to look at the people of ancient Judah and think, "Ah, they just didn't get it." But oh, how wrong we would be. Just like many of us today, the people of Judah faced a very difficult decision—a defining moment where they had to choose between trusting the God who parted seas, who fed multitudes, and who promised a Messiah, or trusting in the tangible power of a worldly empire, Assyria.
But let's not get too high and mighty here, because each and every one of us faces our own "Assyrias" every single day. Yes, I’m looking at you, and I’m looking at me. We trade the Almighty God for what we can see, feel, and touch, things that make sense in our finite minds. We make these trades, and we bear the consequences. Not just the financial or relational consequences, but the deep, soul-stirring, life-altering consequences that ripple through our lives and the lives of those around us.
If we replaced an everlasting God with temporary securities, we’ve got it backwards, and what we're going to see today from the Word is how devastating that trade-off can be. In the words of Isaiah, we're about to learn what happens when we forsake the fountain of living waters and hew out broken cisterns that can hold no water.
The Judgment — Trading God for Assyria (17-25)
So let's crack open our Bibles to Isaiah 7:17-25.
Isaiah 7:17–25 (ESV) — 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!” 18 In that day the Lord will whistle for the fly that is at the end of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures. 20 In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired beyond the River—with the king of Assyria—the head and the hair of the feet, and it will sweep away the beard also. 21 In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, 22 and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey. 23 In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns. 24 With bow and arrows a man will come there, for all the land will be briers and thorns. 25 And as for all the hills that used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not come there for fear of briers and thorns, but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread.
This text picks up on what we studied last week in Isaiah 7. King Ahaz is confronted by the prophet and told God will save them, and you can almost smell the tension in the air as Ahaz rejects God’s allowance for a sign. Ahaz is scared out of his wits; he's facing political turmoil and the prospect of war. And then enters Isaiah with a prophecy. But it's not a fluffy prophecy; this isn't a "you'll be fine, don't worry" kind of talk. No, Isaiah drops a truth bomb. He says, "You're looking for help in the wrong places, and judgment is coming!"
Now, judgment. That's a word we don't like, right? It's like the elephant in the room whenever we talk about God's love and grace. But let's be clear, God's judgment is a part of His character. It's what separates right from wrong, light from darkness.
Isaiah warns Ahaz that choosing Assyria over God will lead to a devastation so thorough that people will completely humiliated. Yes, their fertile lands would be filled with "thorns and thistles." Their economic security, the lush vineyards and fields, would be overrun. The imagery is vivid—your choices have natural consequences, and when you reject God's offer of security, you end up destitute, toiling the land just to get a measly meal.
These briars and thorns represent the curse that came in Genesis when man failed to trust in the word of God. They are a sign for this nation to understand that they are only safe in the will of God.
Application:
So what's our takeaway? Are you banking on your own logic, your own wisdom, or maybe even another "Assyria" in your life right now? Is it that cushy job that you think secures your future? Or perhaps it's a relationship that you've placed on a pedestal, a person you've practically made into a god?
Look, the message here isn't that jobs or relationships are inherently bad. But when they take the place of God, when they become your Assyria, be prepared for thorns and thistles to sprout where there could have been fertile land. God disciplines those he loves. He wants them to see what they are relying on leads to a curse.
So this week, take a moment to assess: What's your Assyria? What have you traded God for? And what can you do to course-correct, to pivot back to the one true source of security, purpose, and life?
We've got to get this, church. Our Assyrias might offer short-term relief, but they're time-bombs that eventually bring devastation. God is offering a way out. Are you willing to take it?
Changing the Sign and Removing the Blessing (8:1-8)
Let's flip those pages and land on Isaiah 8:1-8.
Isaiah 8:1–8 (ESV) — 1 Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’ 2 And I will get reliable witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, to attest for me.” 3 And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 4 for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.” 5 The Lord spoke to me again: 6 “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, 8 and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”
It starts almost like a scene from a movie, doesn't it? Isaiah's told to take a big scroll and write on it with a man's pen. Imagine that, the prophet probably scratching his head and wondering, "What's this all about?"
But God's not into theatrics for the sake of theatrics. He's making a point, a resounding one: "You didn't like the sign of Immanuel, God with us, so here's another one—Maher-shalal-hash-baz!" Try saying that three times fast! This name, this incredibly difficult name, means 'quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.'
If Judah thought allying with Assyria was going to be their salvation, they were dead wrong. They could have had peaceful river of life giving water. But they chose poorly. The waters of the river they chose—this foreign power—would not just stop at aiding Judah against their enemies. Oh no, the text tells us they would flood and overrun everything. And all because they refused the blessing God had initially intended for them. By seeking Assyrian help, they invited Assyrian dominance. The sign changes from "God with us" to "quick to the plunder." How's that for a trade-off?
Application:
Now, let's bring this home. We've all had our "Maher-shalal-hash-baz" moments. We've all had times when, instead of accepting the gentle yoke of Christ, we've burdened ourselves with a yoke of our own making. And just like that river flooding its banks, those decisions overflow into other areas of our lives, wreaking havoc and leaving us wondering, "How did I get here?"
Maybe for some of you, that's debt from living beyond your means because you wanted to keep up appearances. For others, maybe it's the emotional toll from a relationship where you compromised your values. The sign has changed in your life too, and it's a sign of your own making.
This week, think about this: What blessing have you exchanged for a burden? Where did you decline God's offer of 'Immanuel,' opting instead for a quick-fix solution that seemed right at the moment but ended up overflowing and causing damage to your life?
Friends, it's time to change the sign back. It's time to let go of our gods, our personal Assyrias, and claim once again the promise of Immanuel, God with us, who never overflows the banks but fills us to the brim with peace, grace, and unending love.
The Remnant — Holding Onto Hope (Isaiah 8:9-9:7)
Alright, church, hang with me. Let's journey further down the road that Isaiah lays before us, skipping to verses 8:9 through 9:7. These verses are like a break in the clouds, a glimmer of hope on a stormy day. Yes, Isaiah does not end his message on doom and gloom; he brings us to a place of profound hope.
Isaiah 8:11–16 (ESV) — 11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” 16 Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples.
You see, in verse 8:16, we hear about Isaiah and his disciples sealing up the testimony and the law among his disciples. Even in a society bent on turning away from God, there exists a remnant, a small group committed to living out the testimony of God. The charge here is not just to Isaiah but to us, too. We're called to be that remnant.
Isaiah 9:1–7 (ESV) — 1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
And, oh, the hope that's in store! Chapter 9 bursts forth like the dawn. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light!" A child is born, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. The imagery is stunning, the prophecy is awe-inspiring, and the promise is sure. His name? Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We know him as Jesus.
That’s right. Isaiah is given a message of hope about Jesus and the land receiving infinite peace under his reign. That’s the hope that God wants his people to hold on to during the dark days that are ahead of them. One day he will fix what men have broken and make everything new. What a wonderful God we serve.
Deep-Dive Application: The Domino Effect of Idolatry
We've unpacked a lot, but I want to dig even deeper here in our application. Let's pull the curtain back and examine the gnawing 'why' of our tendency to trade God for worldly securities. You see, it's more than just a bad choice; it's a form of idolatry, and that idolatry has a domino effect that touches every part of our lives and our relationship with God.
Why do we let these idols into our lives? Maybe because they promise quick fixes, instant gratification, or the illusion of control. But here's the thing: when you welcome an idol into your life, you're not just adding something alongside God; you're dethroning God and putting that idol in His place. This is more than a spiritual misdemeanor; it's high treason against the King of Kings.
And don't be fooled; this idolatry won't just stay in its corner, unobtrusive and contained. It will start to compromise everything. Your time, your priorities, your relationships—they'll all be twisted to serve this new master. In our quest for control, we'll find we've lost control of the very things that matter most to us. We become spiritually disoriented, and suddenly, the compass that once pointed us toward God is spinning wildly, leaving us lost and confused.
Now here's where it gets real. That idol, that 'Assyria' you traded God for, will turn on you. Remember, Assyria wasn't just a failed ally for Judah; it became an agent of judgment and pain. When we forsake God for an idol, we're not just losing a relationship with God; we're inviting in an enemy. The very thing you thought would save you will lead to your demise.
Practical Application:
So, what's your Assyria? Is it a job? A relationship? Your own intellect? Identify it, and then consider the cost you're paying in your walk with God. Understand that letting these idols into your life is opening a door to more pain and suffering than they could ever alleviate.
The call to action here is as clear as day: Tear down your idols. Return to your first love, God Almighty. And let's not be a people who trade the eternal for the temporary, who exchange living water for broken cisterns. The call of the Gospel is a call to forsake our idols and find true life, joy, and peace in Christ alone.
We must be vigilant, church. The stakes are eternally high. Let's choose wisely, leaning fully into God's grace and sufficiency, lest we find ourselves swallowed by the very things we thought would save us.
Don’t Lose Hope
Listen, don't lose hope! Be a part of the remnant that holds onto God's promises, that looks forward to the light breaking forth, that anticipates the coming of the Prince of Peace into the situations that seem so full of strife and turmoil.
So this week, do me a favor: Find your remnant. Is it a community group? A family member who's been urging you back to faith? A co-worker who's been a steadfast example of Christ's love? Lean into that community and let them be the 'Isaiah' in your life, pointing you toward hope, toward Immanuel.
And let's also be that for others. Who around you needs to hear that they're not walking alone, that there's light at the end of the tunnel? Who needs you to be their Isaiah? Find them, reach out to them, and remind them of the names of our soon-coming King: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Don't lose sight of this: Your past decisions may have led you to where you are, but they don't define where you're going. With Christ, you're always on the cusp of a new day, a fresh start, and an everlasting hope. Amen? Amen!
Conclusion
Every day we're given a set of choices: Will we trust our own wisdom or will we lean into God's? Will we grab hold of immediate gratifications, or will we wait for God's lasting blessings? Will we surrender to despair, or will we be a beacon of hope, both for ourselves and for others?
The invitation is simple but life-altering. Turn away from your personal Assyrias, whatever they may be. Reclaim the sign of 'Immanuel' over your life, and hold onto the unshakeable hope found only in Jesus Christ, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let's leave this place not just as hearers but doers, living testimonies of a God who still intervenes, still rescues, and still transforms lives today. May you be blessed as you walk in obedience, and may your life be a beacon that leads others to the one true God.