Some dumb questions on today's 1st Reading - Is 7:10-14; 8:10

[DiggidyDog]

While waiting for mass to begin today, I was trying to really absorb the first reading and found I had a bunch of questions.

**Is 7:10-14; 8:10

The LORD spoke to Ahaz,**

Who is Ahaz?

saying: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!

Does this mean the Lord is saying that the sign may be anything?

**But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” **

Is this disobediance on Ahaz’s part?

Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God?

A bit confused here. Is Isaiah saying that Ahaz is wearying God because he did not ask for a sign?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,

The text I have in my missal says “Look, the young woman is with child …”, which is present tense. What would the people listening to Isaiah have thought of this? Was this a prophecy or something that was happening right there in the present time?

** and shall name him Emmanuel,**

A really dumb question: how does the Angel Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary about giving birth to a son named Jesus relate to the name Emmanuel? Does the name Jesus = Emmanuel?

** which means “God is with us!”**

Other than the obvious (that Emmanuel means God is with us) why do we pull this text from Is 8:10 and drop it in at the end of 7:10-24?

Thanks in advance for answering.

 

[wardrandolph]

Your questions are good questions.I’m not an expert but here is some background:Because of their disobediance,God in His mercy allowed certain judgements to fall on His people.The Kingdom was divided into two kingdoms(Israel and Judah).Ahaz was the grandson of Uzziah,King of Judah.Read all of Is.7Read 1 and 2 Macc.to understand how the Romans became rulers of Palestine.These set up the "perfect Timing"for Jesus,The Christ to be born.Hope this helps.

 

[wardrandolph]

Both Kingdoms made evil alliances,(Syria,Assyria etc)Ahaz wanted to rely on his alliences rather than God.Immanuel is a description rather than a proper name(Lamb of God,Prince of Peace,The Christ etc.

 

[NotWorthy]

The prophecy had a multiple fulfillment. It was partially fulfilled in the birth of the son from the young maiden in Ahaz’ time (although the Judeans didn’t realize it was only partially fulfilled)

But it was completely fulfilled in Jesus’ time. Remember, Emmanual means “God is with us”, which hearkens one back to the last words of Matthew’s Gospel (remember, Matthew showed the link between Isaiah and Jesus). “And lo, I will be with you til the end of the age”. (paraphrasing)

 

[NotWorthy]

It’s also interesting to note that this prophecy was talking of the same child as in Isaiah 9 - For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

The Jews considered Isaiah 9 to be a messianic prophecy but not Isaiah 7. Matthew is the first to authoritatively make that link.