New Testament writings.1 The Bible has a way of foretelling the future to prepare us for what is
coming next. Below is the passage that prepares us for the birth of the next savior.
Isaiah 7:14-17 states:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and
bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he
knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to
refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.
The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such
days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of
Assyria!
God gave this sign to Ahaz, who initially refused to request a sign. Ahaz, symbolizing his
whole generation, fails to recognize the blessings God wanted to bestow upon him.2 All God
believers know that God does not wait on humans before he gives his messages. Whether we are
ready or not, God comes with a message that will usually change how we live. In the Bible,
God’s chosen are constantly searching for someone to lead them to prosperity. Since they existed
outside Egypt until this specific period, they have periodically looked to God to provide them
with the desired blessing. God told Ahaz that a young woman that is well known would give
birth to a boy that she would name Immanuel.3 This child will be raised in a manner that will
instill the wisdom required to make moral decisions.
Unfortunately, many events, such as battles, must occur before the world can be blessed
with Immanuel. God wants Ahaz to understand that God is with him regardless of the current
1 Jaroslav Brož, “Introduction: The Book of Isaiah,” Acta Universitatis Carolinae. 9, no. 2 (2020): 11.
2 Rickie D. Moore “John Goldingay’s Theology of the Book of Isaiah: An Appreciative Response,” Journal of
Pentecostal theology. 25, no. 1 (2016): 10.
3 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., Handbook on the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Minor
Prophets (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 30.
state of Ahaz’s heart. God realized that Ahaz was spiritually in a dark place and did not feel he
needed God to protect him. Although Ahaz is being stubborn, God still willing to send them a
savior to lead the people out of the darkness. Ahaz was not the first to question God and still
received God’s blessing. Moses, David, Samuel, and Solomon also steered away from God at
one point in time, and they still received his blesses. Isaiah 7:3-5 states, “And the Lord said to
Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the
upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field.”
Within the passage, many names were mentioned. The names possessed meanings that
reflected the return of God. Isaiah 8:18 states, “ Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has
given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.”
Isaiah’s name, means “the Lord saves,” which is a reminder of God’s ability to save his people
from crises.4 Shear-jashub’s name means “a remnant will return,” which has a positive
association suggesting that most enemy assailants would be conquered and only a remnant would
return home.5
The Immanuel sign offers a powerful message to Ahaz and all of us as believers. The
Book of Isaiah played a significant role for Paul by establishing the unity of a Christian
community comprised of both Jew and Gentile.6 The Immanuel sign is relevant to this day
because we, too, are waiting for the return of Christ. Matthew 1: 22-23 states, “22 All this took
place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive
and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” In the New Testament, Mary could birth
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who was birthed from a virgin. This passage reflects how God
is with us daily, although we may sometimes not realize it. On many occasions, God has given us
4 Ibid, 29.
5 Ibid, 29
6 Mireia Ryšková, “The Reception of the Book of Isaiah in Paul’s Letter to the Romans.” Acta Universitatis
Carolinae. 9, no. 2 (2020): 96.
someone wise, strong, courageous, and bold enough to lead us out of our destruction. The best
part about God’s blessings is that they come when we no longer believe there is a way out of our
misery. The passages indicate that Immanuel comes from royalty, allowing the readers to inquire
if the child comes from David's house. In this situation, the young lady referred by Isaiah may
have been someone important in the royal family.7 If true, that means Immanuel is related to
David. We all know that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is also associated with David. The
prophecy could foreshadow the coming of Jesus Christ.
Bibliography
Brož, Jaroslav. “Introduction: The Book of Isaiah.” Acta Universitatis Carolinae. 9, no. 2 (2020):
11–12.
Chisholm Jr., Robert B. Handbook on the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel,
Daniel, Minor Prophets. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.
Moore, Rickie D. “John Goldingay’s Theology of the Book of Isaiah: An Appreciative
Response.” Journal of Pentecostal theology. 25, no. 1 (2016): 9–15.
Ryšková, Mireia. “The Reception of the Book of Isaiah in Paul’s Letter to the Romans.” Acta
Universitatis Carolinae. 9, no. 2 (2020): 95–116.
7 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., Handbook on the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Minor
Prophets (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 32–33.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
