God With Us – Isaiah 7:10-17

From the very beginning, in the garden, God has hinged the future restoration of the kingdom on the birth of a child (Genesis 3:15). The seed of the woman who will come and defeat the serpent is the answer. And so births of children have served as signs or indicators of His work in the world to bring the kingdom to fruition. That is why it is not surprising that God uses the birth of a child to Isaiah and his wife as a sign to help king Ahaz to believe that God will protect Judah from Israel and Syria.

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 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.”  (Isaiah 7:10-17 ESV)

Isn’t it funny how the ungodly will try to use Scripture to justify their lack of faith?  Ahaz quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 about not testing God, but he quotes it after God has told him through Isaiah to ask for a sign.  He uses this Scripture to disobey God.  And God is weary of him, weary for the way he has been wearisome to God’s people and to God.  So God gives him a sign despite himself.

The sign is that a virgin shall bear a son who will still be a mere toddler when Judah’s enemies, Israel and Syria, are no longer even a threat.  The problem is, they will not be a threat because they will be under the dominance of a real threat, Assyria.  Israel was conquered by Assyria soon after this (and Judah was threatened by Assyria but prevented by God from succeeding in conquering Judah).  Ahaz actually fostered this problem by foolishly trying to make an alliance with Assyria (2 Kings 16:5-9). He did not trust Yahweh, but a super-power, to rescue him.

The virgin’s son is Isaiah’s and his wife’s child, also mentioned in the prophecy that follows.  He is not actually named Immanuel, but is symbolically called this because God makes His presence known through this child.  Prophets, priests and kings, however, are types or patterns for Messiah. The ultimate Immanuel and the ultimate “virgin” of course is Jesus and Mary, his mother.  She is actually a virgin who gives miraculous birth to the one who is both human and divine, and thus truly “God with us.”  This is typical (that is, a type, or paradigm person or thing used by God to foretell) prophetic fulfillment.  What is meant for the present (Isaiah’s day) has application to the Day of Yahweh, also, when the ultimate fulfillment takes place. And that is what Matthew is referring to when he cites this passage in Isaiah as fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 1:23).

Discussion Questions

1. What kind of people do you find wearying?
2. What was so wearying to Yahweh about Ahaz?
3. Why is God offering Ahaz a sign?
4. Why do you think God offers a sign despite Ahaz’ refusal of a sign?
5. Why do you think prophets, priests and kings are typical patterns for the future Messiah?
6. How have you experienced God with you in times of trouble?