Isaiah – the Eternal Sign

Isaiah 7:14-16 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16 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.”
 
“THEREFORE” says there is a specific reason for the sign. The reason is Ahaz’s lack of trust in God’s provision. He has refused to consider a sign from God, preferring to even subject his country to the king of Assyria. Isaiah then speaks the sign with which Ahaz and all mankind can test God.
    You’ve heard Isaiah 7:14 often, I believe. Each Christmas season brings this to the forefront as it points to Jesus’ birth. He is Immanuel, God come down, taught in Matthew 1:23 and Luke 1-2.  
    And there is more to the sign. Remember, this sign is spoken for Ahaz and his generation of Israel. God’s sign would be of little value if Ahaz would never see it. As Isaiah’s prophecies are of the near and far future, this prophecy points to both a few years and seven centuries future.  
    There are two ways the prophecy is fulfilled within a few years. The reference to curds and honey  points to a boy living in a time when agriculture is not producing food. During the wars against Judah, people could not work the land for grains, grapes and olives. They had to survive with milk from goats and cattle. They would forage for wild food such as honey, made plentiful as flowers bloomed where crops would have grown.
    Second, as God promised the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. Within 12 years from this prophecy, the king of Aram would be deposed, and Israel would be scattered. Even as he rejected God’s help, Ahaz would see the sign of God’s care for Judah.
    The virgin referred to in the immediate fulfillment is most likely any woman of that time who newly married women who had no sexual relations prior to marriage.
    Does this information help you be more devoted to God? As we know of God’s Word, we can more firmly trust God’s benevolent care over our lives. We can defend our faith against false teachings and cultural wars against Jesus. Let there be no unbelieving “therefore’s” in your life. Knowing God has fulfilled his promises of historical events, you can be more faithful to believe God will fulfill those prophecies yet to come.
 
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not smother the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at those who prophesy, 21 but test everything that is said to be sure it is true, and if it is, then accept it.