-60-
happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is
only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a
people. The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only
Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at
all.’”
“Again the L
ORD
spoke to Ahaz, ‘Ask the L
ORD
your God for a sign,
whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.’ But Ahaz said, ‘I
will not ask; I will not put the L
ORD
to the test.’”
“Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try
the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore
the Lord himself will give you a sign:
The v i r g i n wi l l be wi t h ch i l d and
wi l l g i v e b i r t h t o a s on , and wi l l c a l l h im Immanue l
. He will eat curds
and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.
But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,
the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.”
(Isaiah 7:2-16)
In those times, it was seemingly impossible for a virgin to give birth. Any
virgin with child would have been stoned and put to death, so when
presented to Isaiah, this prophecy would have been impossible even to
consider. However, the spirit of God was speaking through Isaiah, so that
in time when the prophecy was fulfilled, what was stated would evidence
the truth, and reflect that God’s hand was indeed the motivating force. God
offers proof most all the time, but the mind always finds something
impossible to consider, so it can denounce or deny.
To prove God was on the side of Israel, Isaiah told Ahaz to ask God for
something, but he would not ask, he refused.
(Isaiah 7: 11-14)
So the Lord spoke
to Ahaz saying, Israel was not defeated, and Isaiah revealed a profound
prophecy for the people of all time. Salvation resulted from the Divine
intervention, and in the time to follow, the prophetic words have
tremendous implications. Isaiah used the word Immanuel, which means
“God is with us.” The prophecy meant that a Jewish girl, a virgin, would
fulfill God’s Will in a way that was not normal. The child born was
recognized as normal and perfectly natural.
The Messianic message of the Old Testament and the New Testament
should be clearer today, and it’s revealed in this passage from Isaiah. The
question then and now is relevant to the person of Jesus, and the essence of
His lineage or the lack of any human lineage. Foretold as prophecy, the
