Read it: Isaiah 7:1-16 & Isaiah 8:7-8
Live it:
In these two passages, Isaiah introduces the new name of “Immanuel,” a name not found anywhere else in the Old Testament and not used again until the angel tells Mary her child will be called Immanuel (Matthew 1:23) some 600 years later. Immanuel literally means “God with us.”
In our reading, we are reintroduced to King Ahaz of Judah (2 Kings 16), grandson of King Uzziah. King Ahaz is facing a daunting political alliance between the kings of Israel and Syria. He in turn makes an alliance with Assyria instead of trusting in the Lord.
Back to Isaiah, God sends the prophet to King Ahaz telling him “The invasion will never happen; it will never take place” (Is 7:7). God also invites King Ahaz to ask for a sign, “as difficult as you want–as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead” (v. 11). How would you react to an invitation like that? Anything God? Anything? WOW! Suddenly, King Ahaz gets all sanctimonious and self-righteous and states, “I will not test the Lord like that,” prompting the Lord to give the even more outrageous promise of “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!” This did not actually occur for 600 years until the angel appeared to Mary (Matthew 1 & Luke 1).
Think about this. Until this time, the people of God had to go to a specific place, mountain, tabernacle, or temple to be near the presence of God. Now, a new era is being introduced: Immanuel! God is with us! This was fulfilled when Jesus walked this earth and promised the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Ps. Gary