Connect Isaiah 7:21 to God's faithfulness in other biblical narratives. The Context of Isaiah 7:21 “On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep.” (Isaiah 7:21) • Isaiah is addressing King Ahaz while Judah faces threat from Aram and Israel. • God promises Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) and foretells both judgment and survival. • Verse 21 pictures a land stripped bare—yet even then, one cow and two sheep will be enough to keep a family alive (cf. v. 22). Faithfulness Displayed in the Provision • Judgment reduces fields and herds, but God does not abandon the remnant. • A seemingly insignificant “young cow and two sheep” become a living testimony that the Lord sustains His people in lean times. Parallel Portraits of God’s Faithfulness • Joseph in famine: “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant.” (Genesis 45:7) • Manna in the wilderness: “Each one gathered as much as he needed.” (Exodus 16:18) • Elijah by the brook: “The ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening.” (1 Kings 17:6) • The widow’s oil: “The oil has ceased.” (2 Kings 4:6)—only after every vessel is filled. • Feeding the 5,000: “They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces that were left over.” (Matthew 14:20) Threading Isaiah 7:21 Through These Narratives 1. Limited resources become abundant under God’s hand. – One cow, two sheep; a boy’s lunch; a handful of flour—each proves enough. 2. Preservation of a remnant secures future covenant promises. – Judah survives; Israel in Egypt survives; Elijah’s remnant survives. 3. Faithfulness surfaces in crisis, not comfort. – The backdrop is invasion, famine, drought, desert hunger, a hungry crowd. 4. God’s word precedes His provision. – Prophecy to Ahaz, dreams to Joseph, command to Moses, word to Elijah, instruction to the disciples. Keys for Personal Reflection • The literal details—one cow, two sheep—underscore God’s concern for daily needs, not merely grand events. • Every narrative affirms that He keeps His promises “to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9). • When circumstances shrink, expect His faithfulness to loom larger. |
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