Lesson 10: Preparation for our May 28th study

Our Memory verse:  Isa 7:9b 

Themes:  
1) Mankind is under indictment!  We have been diagnosed with a terrible malady.

2) God is the moral authority in the universe!  That's because He is . . . 

3) God graciously offers salvation to rebellious and sinful mankind.

4) Choices have consequences.  

I would like to express a thank-you to Paul for filling in and beginning our investigation of chapter 6.  Although we have more to consider in chapter 6, I would like to first pursue the "pattern of prophecy" we have been considering a bit further.   Specifically, we discussed the fact that prophecy is often revealed in such a way that two or more major events are revealed without any hint of the time gap between them.  We have already looked at the example of Isa 61: 1-2 where Jesus stopped reading right in the middle of the verse--the reason, He was fulfilling the first part of the verse during His 1st Advent; and is not going to fulfill the 2nd part until His return.  So here is what I would like you to do to be ready for our next study (remember, because of the business meeting,you have two weeks to be ready):
   - Refresh you memory on a passage we have already covered by re-reading Isa 7:1-12.  (Do you remember why we found a problem with Ahaz's response in vs 12?)
   - Then work your way from Isa 7:13 through chapter 9.  See if you can find any examples of prophecy that is fulfilled, first in the near term, and then much later (or maybe even not yet fulfilled).  Remember our analogy--like two mountain peaks--if you are not careful, you will be focused only on the near peak and not realize there is another, often much larger peak, behind the first.