INTRO: Judah had enemies all around. In the South, Egypt. In the North, Samaria, Syria and later Assyria. People in the South used to have enemies in the North of the USA. Verse One is the descriptive Title to this chapter. LONG TITLE!

I. CHRISTIANS HAVE ENEMIES TOO!

A. The Kingdom of Judah had enemies (Is. 7:1-2).
Rezin of Syria, Pekah of Samaria and Tiglath Pileser of Assyria.
(describe the historical situation 735 BC)
History: Pekah, 18th king of Samaria, by murder. Defeated in 732 By Tiglath
Pileser, assasinated by Hoshea, who was then made a puppet king by T.P.
Rezin, last king of Syria, killed by T.P. in 732 BC.
Tiglath Pileser III of Assyria (745-727 BC)
Ruled from Persia to Egypt.

B. Christians today around the world have enemies.
(article for AFA Journal, quoting Newsweek, Wash. Times, etc.)
C. Satan is our ultimate behind the scenes enemy (I Peter 5:7-9)
D. Fight Satan with prayer and faith;
Fight our human enemies with prayer and love (Romans 12:17-21).

II. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER THE NATIONS.

A. God would decide the outcome for Judah, Samaria, Syria and Assyria
(Isaiah 7:7a, 17-20)
B. King Nebuchadnezzer had to learn the same lesson (Daniel 4:28-37).
C. God rules over the nations today, too. History is "His story."
D. God also rules over your personal day to day life (Matt. 6:25-34).

III. GOD GIVES SIGNS TO INDICATE HIS WILL.
A. God gave a sign to King Ahaz (a descendent of David) and Judah (Is. 7:10-16).
Isaiah's second wife had a baby, and before the baby was three Rezin and Pekah
were both destroyed in 732 BC (describe the historical facts).
B. This prophecy had a future fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ.
See Matthew 1:22-25. Mary, a true virgin until after Jesus' birth.
C. God may give signs to people today, even to you.

CONCLUSION: 1. We have enemies.
2. God is sovereign.
3. We must be willing to follow guidance from the Lord.