~Another Look at the Lessons~

Read: Isaiah 7:1-24
King Ahaz and the people of Judah were afraid because the King of Israel had allied himself with the King of Aram to fight against Judah, yet through the prophet Isaiah God promised this would never take place. God had other plans. He would soon send the Assyrian Empire to destroy both Aram and Israel. What comfort does God’s control give us in politically contentious country and a volatile world?

Although he was a wicked and unbelieving king, the Lord wanted Ahaz to stand in faith. So he asked Ahaz to test him to do anything—to give him a sign that Ahaz would see and believe. But amazingly Ahaz’s unbelief was such that he wouldn’t even do that! In response God promised a miraculous sign more incredible than any skeptic could believe. What would he cause to happen? (If needed see the footnote for the meaning of Immanuel.)

Read: Revelation 21:1-5
The name Immanuel means “God-with-us.” How do these verses put that name and the promise attached to it in an even more glorious future light?

What are you most looking forward to about living with God forever?

Read: Luke 1:26-38
The name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves”. This wasn’t an uncommon name for Hebrew boys. It is a version of the name Joshua. What, however, was unique about Mary’s son receiving the name Jesus?

Joseph was asked to believe that Mary was faithful to him, even though all the evidence pointed in the opposite direction. God asks us to believe some pretty unbelievable things too. What are some that come to your mind? What does God want our reaction to be?