Wednesday: Sign of a Son
Isa: 7:14
An offer of a sign as “deep as Sheol or high as heaven” (Isa: 7:11, NRSV) did not move Ahaz. So, when God says He Himself will come up with a sign (Isa: 7:14), we expect it to have breathtaking dimensions that only the divine imagination could devise (compare Isa: 55:9, 1 Cor: 2:9).
Surprise! The sign is a son. But how could a young woman’s bearing a child and calling him “Immanuel” be a sign of biblical proportions?
Who is the woman, and who is her Child?
Image © Pacific Press at Goodsalt.com
Nowhere does the Old Testament point out a fulfillment of this important sign, as it had done for the signs given to other people, such as Gideon (Judg: 6:36-40). So, here are some of the possible fulfillments, based on the Old Testament alone:
- Because the word for “young woman” refers to a young woman of marriageable age, many assume she is a married woman living in Jerusalem, perhaps the wife of Isaiah. Isaiah 8:3 does record the birth of a son to Isaiah by “the prophetess” (referring to his wife, whose prophetic messages consisted, at least, of her children; compare Isa: 7:3, Isa: 8:18). However, this son was named Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isa: 8:1-4), not Immanuel. Nevertheless, the signs of the two boys are similar in that before they reach the early stage at which they can choose good or evil, Syria and northern Israel would be devastated (Isa: 7:16, Isa: 8:4).
- Some suggest that Immanuel is Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, who became the next king. But nowhere is the name Immanuel applied to him.
- Because Immanuel is somewhat mysterious and his name, commonly translated “God with us” refers to God’s presence, He could be the same as the special Son prophesied in Isaiah 9 and 11. If so, His exalted description as divine (Isa: 9:6) and “the root of Jesse” (Isa: 11:10, NRSV) surpasses anything that could be ascribed even to good King Hezekiah.
- A natural birth to an unmarried woman of marriageable age would result in an illegitimate child through illegal promiscuity (see Deuteronomy 22.20-21). Why would God refer to such a child as a sign to inspire faith?
In contrast, the New Testament identifies Jesus as Immanuel (Matt: 1:21-23), born miraculously and with purity to an unmarried but betrothed virgin. Jesus is also the divine Son (Isa: 9:6, Matt: 3:17) and the “shoot” and “root” of Jesse (Isa: 11:1, Isaiah 11:10; Rev: 22:16). Perhaps an earlier “Immanuel,” whose development proved to Ahaz the timeliness of prophetic fulfillments, served as a forerunner of Christ. We do not know. But we know what we need to know: “when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal: 4:4, NRSV), to give us the presence of God with us.
| Dwell on the reality of Christ’s coming into humanity. What kind of comfort can this reality give us amid what seems like a cold, fearsome, and uncaring world? |
(33)
We want leadership in a moment of crisis. We want someone who is with us and who sympathizes with the real danger facing us, someone whom we know can actually help transform the situation. We don't want someone safely ensconced away from the problems and chaos, watching from afar. We need someone who moves to act.
How does God's presence give us hope? How can we know that....
....is a promise for us as surely as it was for the people of Israel?
How can we know that Jesus was more than a good man, more than one in a line of spiritual gurus? How can we know that Jesus, a man with a birth certificate and a death certificate, gave up His place of riches and authority in Heaven to descend to us and accept responsibility for our darkness (2 Cor. 8:9)? How do we experience Jesus as the only light capable of penetrating our darkness? How do we know that Jesus is the only hope capable of penetrating our despair, the only life with power to reverse the stain of sickness and death ravaging planet Earth?
Isaiah made the declaration in Isaiah 7:14 on God's behalf during a time of international tension. It is when things are tense that we long more than ever to be sure of our answers. Instead of booming out an answer from a megaphone, God answers me like He did Ahaz, personally. The answer is not cold from far away. The answer is as warm and closeup as finding Him in my own beating heart, my own wondering mind, my own life story. He tells me to seek Him, to make this my priority and to put effort into it (Matt. 6:33; Matt. 13:44-46).
In Jesus' name, we ask, we beg, to experience God in "breathtaking dimensions that only the divine imagination could devise", so that with lives overflowing with faith, His glory is better revealed through us (John 14:13).
Consider, recognize and have faith in the LORD's timing.
Ahaz and the people were concerned, terrified of the immediate threat but God promised that within a few years Syria & Israel would no longer be a threat to them. Instead of waiting for God's plan to happen Ahaz made his own plan which in the short term seemed to be successful.
So often we want issues to be resolved immediately, while more often than not the LORD's says wait, my plan might take longer but the result will be better in the end.
Hab 2:2-4 ISV … the LORD told me: "Write out the revelation, engraving it clearly on the tablets, so that a courier may run with it. (3) For the revelation pertains to an appointed time—it speaks truthfully about the end. Though it delays, wait for it, because it will surely come about—it will not be late! (4) …— the righteous will live by their faith.
When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of the LORD, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by his word, his Spirit, and providences; what the Lord will say to our case. God will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait to hear what he will say unto them. All are concerned in the truths of God's word. Though the promised favour be deferred long, it will come at last, and abundantly recompense us for waiting. The humble, broken-hearted, repenting sinner, alone seeks to obtain an interest in this salvation. He will rest his soul on the promise, and on Christ, in and through whom it is given. Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory; while those who distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will not walk uprightly with him. The just shall live by faith in these precious promises, while the performance of them is deferred. Only those made just by faith, shall live, shall be happy here and in eternity.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
It seems no matter what, Ahaz was determined not to believe, trust or listen to God. A child born, signaling the trouble ahead wouldn’t draw him from his intentions.
In our world today, not only has the prophecy concerning a virgin conceiving and naming the child Emmanuel come, He lived, died and has ascended to the Father taking His rightful place as our mediator.
A proposal is given to us also in Isaiah 43:10-12,
“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.“
The question for us is similar, will we believe, obey and trust God’s Word (even if we don’t understand every detail) or will we turn to our own ideas of what should be and rely on humans to guide us through these spiritually dark days?
......Fear not....Isa 43:1. Lk 2:10
Question for today--'Dwell on the reality of Christ’s coming into humanity. What kind of comfort can this reality give us amid what seems like a cold, fearsome, and uncaring world?'
Fear not is a promise the Lord made to the children and Israel and is for us in these times. The promise to 'fear not' is written 365 times in the bible. A promise for every day of the year. But are we still afraid.
Solution- read, study and hold on to Jesus promises by works and faith. Ahaz works condemn him, he had no faith in God so he went out seeking help from man but the arm of men failed him.
What I have done- I went to work Monday and was told there is a Covid outbreak at my work place. This is not great news but I am a front line worker and the question was not 'how' but 'when', as a result all workers will be tested. It was my time to be tested and a fear came to me because if positive, I will be off for 2 wks. Then they said, not Monday but Tuesday. I told Jesus about my fears and prayed about it. I also informed my family. Went to bed a bit anxious and yesterday I woke up with a calming assurance. I did my test and it was negative. I praise the Lord for his promises of protection. He said if I do what is right he will protect me, to be cont. Praise the Lord
Jesus is our refuge in times of troubles! While in the flesh, He suffered much more than we can possibly think! Jesus did not deserve all He went through, but He became like us humans just because He loved us first! After all, why would He abandon humanity today?
Why would Ahaz, a pagan in heart, ask a sign from One he did not believe in? Yet, a sign was given, but not for Ahaz. This sign was given for all who believed in the promise of a Messiah, which all who believe in Him hold fast to. It helps to confirm our faith today as the temptation to unbelief persists.
We can fully trust in God who does nothing without revealing His secrets through His servants, the prophets(Amos 3:7).
I believe that the message from the LORD was not just for Ahaz individually but for the whole of the Kingdom of Judah, it was given to Ahaz as the representative of all the people. The LORD was calling them all to repent or go into captivity. We are so used to the Gospel being for individuals that we find it difficult to grasp that in the time of Isaiah they all suffered or prospered as a group depending on whether the majority followed the LORD or not. We know that although Daniel and his friends were true believers they were taken with the rest of the tribe into captivity.
Timely lesson indeed. The lesson us a call to me directly. I pray for Grace to be able to wait upon the Lord.
Ahaz refused God, he did not acknowledge any relationship with the God of the Creation of heaven and earth. Ahaz, in type, is the lost man of all ages; the man who walks without God's councel! I think the sign which God offered was prophetically speaking to the spiritual aspect of His presence of light and truth in our heart, as well as the material appearance of his physical Son Immanuel – ‘God with us’ - the Light of the World which dispells its darkness. What a testimony to the unwavering Love of God for mankind!
Isa.7:14KJV - Why would we doubt that the sign spoken of by Isaiah is the foretelling of the birth of Christ Jesus, the Son of God who will open our eyes and put the Word of God into our hearts? This foretelling of the birth of Christ Jesus is mentioned several more times in Isaiah’s writings. After studying these passages of the Scripture, there is no doubt in my mind that they refer to the Christ who will come to safe the people out of the darkness of this world.
God warned and admonished not only Ahaz and the ‘house of Jacob’, but He also warned the nations planning to attack His people that their plans will not prosper – Isa.8:9-10KJV; and in prophecy, with this declaration, He warned all the forces of darkness manifesting themselves to war against the faithful until the end of time.
God counseled Isaiah to separate his ways from the ways of the people who walk by their own councel, without their God – Isa.8:13,14,17KJV; and we are warned to do likewise.
Every aspect of the experience of separation from God is depicted in this narrative; we do well to take counsel from its teachings.
Isaiah knows that the people have turned inward, having taking their eyes off God and seeking to prosper according to their own imaginations. God told him what was to befall the house of Jacob; the name of his children are its signs – Isa.8:18KJV.
But, at the time as deep darkness shrouded the minds and hearts of His chosen people, Isaiah was given God’s Word to speak to them of a new sign of His ongoing faithfulness, a sign of encouragement for those who remain faithful – a great Light which their God will provide – Isa.9:2KJV. The power of this great Light will dispel all the darkness of man’s heart – Isa.9:6-9KJV; Isa.11:1-5KJV.
In the midst of the dreaded darkness, as Ahaz rejected righteous counsel, God reassures His people and promises them His Light. This is the Light of His Son which dispels the darkness for all who believe!
This lesson study calls us to give heed to the voice of God through the holy spirit so that we can be led by HIM,not to figure out for ourselves.Mercy Mosarwe Botswana
Psalms 1:1 is the blessing given to the Godly.