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Questions for Isaiah 7:1-14

Key verses 7:14

THE SIGN OF IMMANUEL

1. Who was Ahaz (1a)? How would you describe Judah’s situation based on the passages (1b, 5-6, 2 Kings 16:5-6)? How did Ahaz and his people feel emotionally in such circumstances (2)?
2. What words of encouragement did God give to Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah (3-4)? What promises and warnings did God give to Ahaz (7-9)? What might it mean for us today to stand firm during a crisis (9b)?
3. What offer did God make to Ahaz to help him (10-11)? Why do you think Ahaz chose to refuse God’s help (12, 2 Kings 16:7-9)? Despite this, why did God remain patient and continue to help the house of David (13, Rom 2:4)?
4. Even though Ahaz didn’t believe, what sign did the Lord Himself promise to give him (14)? How do you understand the role of a “sign” in this context? What does “Immanuel” mean (Mt 1:23)? What message do you think God is speaking to you and your community through this passage during this Christmas season?

2024 NYUBF Christmas Message #2

Immanuel – God with us

Isaiah 7:1-17

Key Verse: Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

The book of Isaiah is often called the “fifth gospel” because of its vivid prophecies about the Messiah. Isaiah 7:14 contains one of the most famous prophecies about Jesus - Immanuel. Even the name itself is a great reminder of God’s grace for us. Through Isaiah, we are drawn closer to the gospel of Jesus. As we read today’s passage, we should remember the dual nature of God’s prophecies. They often address both the immediate context of their time and a more distant future. We see a similar dual nature in God’s sign to king Ahaz, a promise to his time and an ultimate prophecy pointing to the coming Messiah.

Look at verse 1. It begins with a specific historical background. During the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, about 734 BC, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Northern Israel had allied to attack Judah, intending to overthrow the House of David. At the time, the international situation was changing rapidly. Assyria was rising as an emerging power in the north, and Aram and Northern Israel, feeling threatened, joined together to stop Assyria. They also wanted the southern kingdom of Judah to join them, but King Ahaz refused. The news of this alliance caused fear in Judah. Look at verse 2b. “The hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” This fear was not without reason. Judah had recently suffered devastating losses. 2 Chronicles 28:5-8 describes how the king of Aram captured many people in Judah. Pekah, the king of Israel, killed 120,000 men in a single day, and took 200,000 captives. Even one of king’s sons was killed. It must have been a terrifying time for King Ahaz, who was only 20 years old. (2 Kings 16:2)

In this moment of fear, God sent the prophet Isaiah. Let's read verse 4a together. “Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood.” What do you take away from this verse? I wondered if God had ever spoken like this before. Four times over, God is assuring Ahaz and encouraging him. “Be careful, keep calm, don't be afraid, do not lose heart.” You can tell that God is helping King Ahaz in a very special way. He even allows him to ask for a sign. At this point, let us examine who King Ahaz was. His grandfather, King Uzziah, was considered a man of God who experienced great blessing from God. Ahaz’s father, King Jotham, also walked uprightly before God. Do you know who Ahaz’s son was? King Hezekiah, who was renowned for his unparalleled devotion to God. Clearly, Ahaz was born and raised in a family deeply rooted in faith. So, how did King Ahaz live his life?

The book of Kings provides “report cards” for each king of Judah. Some kings received an “A”, while others earned “B” or “C”. King David is the benchmark. For example, King Asa is recorded as being right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father Daivd. (1Ki 15:11) Grade A. King Amaziah was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father Daivd. (2Ki 14:3) A-. Hezekiah was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David. A+. (2Ki 18:3) Josiah was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. (2Ki 22:2) A++. Full scholarship! So, it makes us curious about Ahaz’s report card. Sadly, his grade is nothing but an “F”. 2Kings 16:2, “Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.” Only two kings received such harsh evaluation. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He even burned his own children in the fire. (2 Chronicles 28:2-4) Only Ahaz and Manasseh committed such an evil act in Judah. Manasseh repented later, but Ahaz died in his sins without turning back to God. Interestingly, the book of Chronicles adds more color to the report card by where each king was buried. Ahaz was not placed in the tombs of the kings. Only three kings were denied the royal burial among 21 kings in Judah. The final comments on Ahaz are here. 2 Chronicles 28:19. “He had been most unfaithful to the LORD” 2 Chronicles 28:22, “In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.”

Despite being surrounded by a faithful father and son, his reign was marked by spiritual ruin. What’s wrong with Ahaz? Consider 2Kings 16:10, “Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction.” This reveals his deep envy for the pagan nations, their power, and their idolatry, and he had a strong desire to imitate them. Also, look at Isaiah 8:6 “this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah.” While Ahaz feared the threats of Aram and Israel, yet ironically rejoiced in them. This illustrates a divided heart. He feared the world, yet loved it, he suffered because of sin but also found it sweet. This reminds us of Job 20:12 “evil is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue.” Perhaps God wanted to help King Ahaz repent before he became so utterly corrupt. He sent Isaiah to instill faith and courage in him. Let's read verse 9b together, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” God desired for Ahaz to stand firm in the faith. For this, he urged him to be careful, stay calm, not be afraid, and not lose heart. Moreover, God provided a specific promise. The two kings Ahaz dreaded would be defeated. Three years later, Pekah, king of Israel, was assassinated, and Rezin, king of Aram, was killed by the Assyrian king. God's promise was fulfilled entirely.

To help King Ahaz, God offered him one more special favor. Isaiah 7:11, “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or the highest heights.” Essentially, God gave Ahaz a blank check. Any sign, no matter how great or small, would be granted to strengthen his faith. This offer is remarkable because God typically does not encourage people to demand signs. Yet, He sometimes provides signs when requested with genuine faith. A good example is King Hezekiah, who asked for the sun to move back ten degrees as a confirmation of God’s promise to heal him. Ahaz, however, responded quite differently. In verse 12, he says, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.” At first glance, this might sound spiritual and humble, as if Ahaz were showing reverence for God. But in reality, his response revealed a heart of unbelief and defiance. Ahaz didn’t want to trust God. Faith requires a spiritual battle, holding on to God’s words and waiting patiently. Ahaz was unwilling to do it.

“I will not ask,” he essentially declared, “I don’t want to involve God in my life. What does God have to do with me?” This mindset is common among those who reject God. We see a similar attitude in the story of the demon-possessed man in Luke 8:28. When Jesus went to the region of Gerasenes, a demon-possessed man cried out: “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” Although he seemed to acknowledge Jesus’ divine authority, his plea was “Leave me alone!” This is the same spirit we see in Ahaz, a desire to live life on his own terms, without God. Ahaz’s rebellion is heartbreaking. He failed to understand that God wasn’t troubling him, rather, Ahaz was troubling God with his stubbornness. Isaiah 7:13 expresses the frustration, “Will you try the patience of my God also?” So, what should we do when we find ourselves struggling with unbelief? We can learn from the father of the demon-possessed boy in Mark 9:24. When Jesus confronted his lack of faith, the father exclaimed: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” At least, we need this honest confession and humble reliance on Him for strength. Sadly, Ahaz didn’t follow this path. He had already chosen to rely on worldly power. In 2 Kings 16:7, we read how he sent messengers to the king of Assyria, lowering himself as a servant of him and even offering treasures from God’s temple as a bribe.

Until here is the background of today’s key verse. Now, let’s read Isaiah 7:14 again, “Therefore, the LORD himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” Even to the faithless and stubborn King Ahaz, God offers a sign. Remarkably, God does this despite Ahaz not asking for it. God’s mercy and persistence is shining here. Instead of abandoning Ahaz, God himself provides a sign, and this sign becomes one of the most profound prophecies in the Bible; Immanuel, God with us. The prophecy first had a specific meaning in King Ahaz’s time. The Hebrew word for "virgin" here is Almah, which was a word used in a broader sense of a young woman including a virgin. During Ahaz’s reign, a young woman would marry, conceive, and bear a child named Immanuel. While this event itself was not miraculous, it carries deep significance in its context. At a time when Judah was steeped in idolatry and ruled by a wicked king, a faithful young woman would marry, bear a child, and name him Immanuel as a declaration of her faith in God’s presence. This act symbolized that, despite the nation’s spiritual corruption, God had preserved a remnant of faithful people. It was a powerful reminder that God would protect and fulfill His promises to His people. Historically, this prophecy came true with astonishing precision. If the prophecy was given around 734 BC, as scholars suggest, the Northern Kingdom of Israel would fall to Assyria 12 years later in 722 BC when the boy was still young enough. Again, by 669 BC, within 65years of the prophecy, the Assyrian resettlement policy of Samaria would be complete by the inhabitants of the Gentile nations. This timeline affirmed God’s word to Ahaz.

More profoundly, Isaiah 7:14 is a prophecy of God’s ultimate salvation, fulfilled 730 years later. The Gospel of Matthew identifies this fulfillment in the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Let’s read Matthew 1:22-23: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” Unlike the natural signs in Ahaz’s time, the birth of Jesus was the supernatural event of a virgin birth. It signifies not just God's presence with us but also the profound mystery of the Incarnation; God becoming flesh and dwelling among us. It is astonishing that God chose to give such a profound prophecy to someone like Ahaz. Why would God extend such grace to a king who was faithless, defiant and uninterested in seeking Him? The answer lies in the fact that Ahaz represents more than just himself. He reflects the unbelief and rebellion of all humanity. His refusal to trust God mirrors the condition of the human heart. Yet, God does not give up. Despite Ahaz’s rejection, God still intervenes, offering a sign of His presence and faithfulness. This act foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of the Immanuel prophecy in Jesus Christ, who came to dwell among us.

What does this prophecy of Immanuel teach us?

First, God Who Loves First. When King Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, God still gave him one, demonstrating His grace unilaterally and unconditionally. Since the fall in Genesis 3, God’s love for humanity has been evident. From the very beginning, God initiated the plan of salvation, demonstrating His faithfulness to His promise. The apostle John captures this beautifully in 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” And again in 1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.” The birth of Immanuel Jesus is the ultimate expression of this love. God himself reached out to humanity first. His grace pursued us before we could even recognize our need for Him. We praise Him for this amazing love that comes unasked.

Second, God Who Loves In Spite of Us. The coming of Jesus, Immanuel, also reveals the God who loves us in spite of ourselves. As Victor Hugo famously said, “The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” This is the essence of God’s grace. He does not love us because of our goodness or accomplishments but in spite of our sin and failures. Paul captures this truth in Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What kind of love is this? It is a love so deep that it reaches down to where we are, no matter how far we’ve fallen. God did not turn away from our sinfulness but instead chose to dwell among us, entering our brokenness.

Third, God Who Loves Unwaveringly. The birth of Jesus, Immanuel, signifies the fulfillment of God's promise of salvation. This is not merely the story of God being with us in our struggles or offering temporary relief. It is the story of God fundamentally and eternally saving us from sin. When the angel announced Jesus' birth to Mary, he declared, “You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Immanuel is more than a comforting title. It is the declaration of God’s firm determination to save humanity through His Son. Was it necessary for God to become man for our salvation? Yes, it is. Only by becoming one of us could He fully represent us and bear the price for our sins. Through the Incarnation, God accomplished what no human effort ever could; the perfect and complete redemption of His people. There are many amazing scenes in the Bible. There is a scene that captures my heart the most. The scene moves me deeply whenever I think of it. The curtain of the temple being torn in two from top to bottom at the very moment Jesus dies on the cross (Matthew 27:51). I imagine how God waited for that moment, the moment His Son gave His life, and then the moment he tore the veil in divine finality. The veil was not just fabric. It symbolized separation. Exodus 26:33 describes it as a barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity. As sinners, we could not come near God, and as holy, He could not come to us. It symbolized the "great chasm" Jesus referenced in Luke 16:26, a divide that no one could cross. But at the cross, God Himself tore the veil. He removed the dividing wall, opened the way, and made it possible for any sinner to run to his arms. The author of Hebrews captures this truth with excitement. Hebrews 10:19-20 says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body.” The torn veil reveals a core truth of the Bible; Immanuel, God with us. Our faith centers on believing this reality that Jesus Christ is Immanuel, God with us.

There was a time in college when I was overwhelmed with disappointment and despair over my recurring sins. I went into the prayer room and knelt, unable to say even one word. I felt that asking for Jesus’ grace would be shameless and undeserved. In my silence, His words occurred to me from John 13:8: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” The word humbled me. Despite my sin, Jesus still wanted to wash me, still wanted to be my Savior. Another moment of despair came when I was a senior in college. I drifted from my faith and was ready to leave the church. I wondered how someone like me—constantly stumbling—could ever call himself a follower of Jesus. Then a word grabbed me, Mark 2:17, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” These moments reminded me that Immanuel is not just a title. He really meant it. It leaves us in awe. The Hebrew word Immanuel breaks down into Im (together), Anu (us), and El (God). That little word, “Im (with)”, is unfathomable. By nature, God and humanity cannot be together. Between God and Us, there should be other words like "against" or "apart from". Yet, “with” changes everything. Consider all that Jesus did for the sake of “with”. He came to earth in human form. He was tempted in every way like us and lived a holy life. He touched lepers, healed the sick, became a friend of tax collectors, met Samaritan woman, cast out demons. He gave Himself to be crucified. He refused to come down from the cross until he could finally declare, “It is finished.” He conquered death and rose from the grave. He ascended into heaven and now intercedes for us at the right hand of God. He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The entirety of Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension fulfills God’s presence among us.

At the CBF Christmas service three years ago, I reflected on the meaning of righteousness in a Chinese character. I realize it is also conveying the meaning of “Immanuel”. Chinese character “I” is composed of hand and a dagger. Without Christ, we stand before God as rebels wielding swords against God. But with the Lamb of God, Jesus, we are covered. When God looks at us, He sees us through His Son. It is through Jesus, the Lamb of God, Immanuel, that we are justified. It is through Jesus, the Lamb, Immanuel, that we become children of God. It is through Jesus, the Lamb, Immanuel, that we are reconciled to God.

Praise be to Jesus, Immanuel—God with us. Merry Christmas.