It is interesting that after Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in the year king Uzziah died, after the Lord tells Isaiah that he was sent to a people who would hear but not understand, after the Lord declares how he will utterly destroy that nation and yet save a remnant for the sake of the Holy Seed in them, then we jump sixteen years to the reign of king Ahaz and come to this phrase, "And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz." I am not suggesting that this prophecy was completely fulfilled in the days of Ahaz, but in the days of king Ahaz the Lord graciously illustrates everything he said to Isaiah in chapter six. The LORD gave Isaiah a sure token of what he promised to do through the gospel of Christ. That is, the Lord used several nations to show us exactly how he will save his holy children in Christ the Holy Seed.

Isaiah went forth preaching Christ the Holy Seed (Isa 7: 14, 15.) The LORD declared the remnant shall return by commanding Isaiah to take his son with him when he met Ahaz. His son's name by interpretation meant that very thing (Isa 7: 3.)

Just as the Lord told Isaiah concerning the hard hearts of those who would not believe, Ahaz and the people of Judah looked down their pious noses at Isaiah and his message of Christ (Isa 7: 10-13,) In their idolatrous hearts, they were like the leaves cast off the teil tree. When they heard of the enemy which they faced the Spirit describes them as shaking like leaves on a tree ((Isa 6: 13; 7: 2.)

Yet, the LORD gave Isaiah a token of his promise that the land would be destroyed and yet the remnant would indeed return. In one day 120,000 were killed. Yet, the 200,000 which were taken captive by Israel were sent back, clothed and well-cared for. The remnant was returned not by might, nor by power but by the Spirit of God as Obed the prophet simply declared the gospel of the Holy One of Israel (2 Chr 28: 1-15; Zec 4: 6, 7.)

As we behold Ahaz harden his heart against the gospel of the Holy One and yet we see God saving a remnant from the hand of their enemies, and all done through the preaching of the gospel, may we be comforted knowing that the unbelief of some shall never frustrate God's promise and purpose. Take time to read these scriptures. There is no enemy-not your sin, not your debt to God's law, not your spiritually dead condition, not this world, not even death-over which the Lord Jesus Christ has not triumphed and made his people more than conquerors in him. Heed the command delivered by Isaiah to Ahaz, "if ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established" (Isa 7: 9.) May the Lord bless you to cast all your care on Christ the Holy One of Israel.