Ray B

Q2. (Isaiah 8:14-15) In what sense is Yahweh (and his Messiah Jesus) a "stumbling stone" and "a trap and a snare"? If I am not walking in Gods truth and light I am walking in darkness, therefore I will trip and stumble. God will break me until I surrender to him and his ways. In what way are people broken in this stumbling? Their spirit is broken and their lives are in ruin, they become slaves of dark forces. Why do you think people stumble over a God who is almighty and righteous and must be obeyed? They want to do their own thing and not be in obedience to God his laws and his ways. They find themselves in situations and doing things they should never have been a party too.

Q1. (Isaiah 7-8) What was the gist of Isaiah's prophetic instruction to Ahaz? For Ahaz to trust in GOD and not side with other nations. Why do you think Ahaz chose to disregard it? He did not trust God or believe Isaiah's prophecy. What did Ahaz do instead? He sent treasure from the temple to Assyria and made Judah a vassal unto them. What was the consequence of this disobedience? God removed his covering and Judah was invaded and destroyed by the Assyrians. Why do we sometimes seem to think that we're smarter than God? We think we have the answer when it is supposedly obvious to us. Why is it sometimes so hard to do what God tells us to do? God tests us to see if we are obedient and we sometimes think we know better or take the easier option.

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? God has hardened their hearts, they will hear the word but not receive it. Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? No, not all but what he is to witness will surely make him sad. Why will Isaiah's prophecy make the task worse? Deep down Isaiah wish for the Israelites to turn from their wicked ways and now GOD is asking him to be further distanced them from the Lord, so the Israelites will fall into the hands of pagan nations. In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? The sower. In Jesus' parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Yes. Is there any hope? Not for those with hard hearts, but those that are hungry, they will receive and enjoy the Kingdom of heaven.

Q5. (Isaiah 6:5-8) What is Isaiah's reaction to the vision? That he is doomed, he is a man of unclean lips and lives with unclean people. How does God deal with Isaiah's fear? His lips are cleansed and his sin is taken away. What question follows Isaiah's cleansing? Whom shall I send? What is Isaiah's response to God's question? Here I am, send me. What is your response when you sense God calling you? Yes Lord, I shall go, do, be, as you wish Lord.

Why do you think Yahweh revealed himself in this way to Isaiah? I believe GOD wanted Isaiah to see him in all his majesty, that Isaiah should know the fullness of the Lord. I believe that by seeing God in this way God strengthened Isaiah's resolve in his service to the Lord. God also wanted Isaiah to see how he was being worshipped in heaven and that this how he should worshipped by the Israelites. In what ways does this vision reveal God's majesty? Description of the Lords robe, the serphaim praising God constantly and they covered their so as not to see God. What do we learn about Yahweh from the serphaim's chant? Just how almighty GOD truly is and that I should tremble before him, fear him and honour my Father in heaven with all my body, might, soul and spirit.

What was the vintner's vision for the vineyard? A vineyard that was cleared and well kept, planted with the choicest vines, to produce sweet grapes. What did he do to accomplish his vision? He removed the stones, tilled the soil and planted choice vines. What happened when the crop came in? The grapes were bitter! What did the vintner say he would do with the vineyard? He will tear down the hedges and break down the walls, let animals trample in it, letting become a wild place. The vines will not be pruned, the ground unhoed, the place will be overgrown with briers and thorns. No rain is to fall on the land, says the Lord almighty. What does this parable mean? This parable speaks of the good things that Lord has done for man, removing his enemies (in mind, body, soul and spirit). God prepared a safe place for his children to flourish, that might live in the Lords righteousness, but the Israelites lived impure live's, ignoring God (disowning him) and choosing worship other Gods. In doing so God grew tired of their evil ways and removed his hedge of protection, allowing other pagan nations to invade and conquer the Israelites.

Q6. (Isaiah 6:9-10) How do you make sense out of these verses? God is sovereign, man thinks he does not need God, that he is capable of running his life. But man is fickle and his heart is hardened, causing all manner of sins to be carried out. God knows man and commands the deafness on him, that his sin becomes his downfall and only then (in his demise) will man seek God earnestly and return to the Father. Is Isaiah called to an impossible mission? From an earthly sense in some ways yes, but from a godly viewpoint no. Why will Isaiah's prophecy make the task worse? For man in certainly will, but in the end God will prevail and man will be forgiven and restored to a rightful relationship through God the Father In which parable did Jesus quote this passage (Matthew 13:1-23)? Matthew the Parable of the sower. In Jesus' parable, is there any frustration in preaching the gospel? Jesus' frustration is people's unwillingness to accept God as their King and Lord, the unwillingness of the people to live by God's laws and decrees. Is there any hope? Yes, the good soil will reap a harvest of thirty, sixty or a hundred fold. For those that hungry are the good soil.

Q5. (Isaiah 6:5-8) What is Isaiah's reaction to the vision? That he is a sinner living amongst sinful people, that he is doomed. How does God deal with Isaiah's fear? God removes Isaiah's sin by cleansing his lips with the hot coal. What question follows Isaiah's cleansing? The Lord has a task and is looking for someone to go on his behalf. What is Isaiah's response to God's question? Here I am Lord, choose me, I will go for you, I will put your people on my heart. What is your response when you sense God calling you? My response is I first get confirmation from his spirit, I then move on his word and turn into an action on his behalf, for his kingdom glory and not my own. I fear God and choose to be obedient to him.

Q4. (Isaiah 6:1-4) Why do you think Yahweh revealed himself in this way to Isaiah? God was showing Isaiah his glory, his majesty and that he should be worshiped by the people of Israel. He alone is their heavenly Father and the one provide for their every need. In what ways does this vision reveal God's majesty? That he is sovereign, above all things and he has the power and authority to declare what he chooses over the earth. That judgement is his and he shall act as he sees fit to do so. What do we learn about Yahweh from the serphaim's chant? That GOD is sovereign, the creator of heaven, earth and everything that is in the universe. That we, as his children should come into his presence trembling, bowing before him and worshiping the King of kings and the Lord of lords. That he is GOD almighty.

Q3. (Isaiah 5:1-6) What was the vintner's vision for the vineyard? To clear the fields and have a place of order and cleanliness. What did he do to accomplish his vision? The Lord built a hedge of protection to keep the enemy forces out of the vineyard. What happened when the crop came in? The crop was full of bitter fruit, unrighteousness and evil deeds. What did the vintner say he would do with the vineyard? The Lord said he would remove his hedge of protection allowing the enemy to come into the vineyard. What does this parable mean? This allowed outside pagan countries to invade and overcome the Israelites.

Lord is declaring peace among the nations, that multitudes of people's (nations which includes the gentiles) will come to the Lord our Father, his is throne will be established forever and he will rule over all nations.

2-4 The israelites abandon God as their master and Lord, they were sinful and corrupt. When we distance ourselves from God we become subjects of the world and remove our spiritual covering with our heavenly Father.God said the Israelites were hypocrites and had blood on their hands because of their injustices. 15-17 God reminded the Israelites of their evil deeds, their injustices and unwillingness to help the widows and oppressed. 18-20 Their behaviour is in direct opposition to God's will, law and ways. God gives them the chance to repent, change their ways, return to him and be saved from the impending travesty that is about to be upon them.