Isaiah foreshadowed birth of Jesus

Our story begins two centuries after the Jewish monarchy (first King Saul, then King David, lastly King Solomon) had split into (1) a northern kingdom (Israel) and (2) a southern kingdom (Judah). Around 736 BC, Ahaz became the 14th king of Judah. Ahaz refused to join the political alliance of ‘King Pekah of Israel and King Rezin of Syria’ who sought to drive back the advances of the Assyrian Empire. Displeased with Ahaz’ decision not to join their ranks, the two kings invaded Jerusalem with the intent to conquer the kingdom of Judah and replace Ahaz.

Immediately, the Lord sent the Prophet Isaiah to assure King Ahaz that the two kings would fail in their attacks on Jerusalem and Judah. Yet, Ahaz was reluctant to believe. To prove the validity of the prophecy, the Lord sent another message to Ahaz: “Ask the Lord for a sign.” But the king responded, “I will not put the Lord to a test.” Feeling that Ahaz’s reluctance might wear out the Lord’s patience, Isaiah spoke up: “The Lord Himself will send you (Ahaz) a sign: a virgin will have a son and call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7: 14). Isaiah’s first prophecy came to pass when both Israel and Syria were conquered by the Assyrian Empire—rendering the defeated armies of Pekah and Rezin incapable of threatening King Ahaz of Judah.

Move forward seven centuries into the future, and we read from Matthew 1:22-23 that Jesus’ birth was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy (7:14). In fact, the gospel writer Matthew used 20 Old Testament prophecies to prove that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Matthew wrote that Mary was “engaged” to Joseph, but when Mary became pregnant, Joseph didn’t wish to make her a public example, so he decided to divorce Mary quietly. Then, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit… His name shall be called Jesus who will save His people from their sins.” The Scripture affirms “Joseph did not know Mary until she brought forth her firstborn Son.”

In Isaiah 7:14, the Hebrew term, “almah,” is used whose English translation is “virgin.” Most English translations today use “virgin” except the Revised Standard Version (RSV), which replaced “virgin” with “young woman.” Many evangelicals believed this is a covert attack on the virgin birth and refuse to use the RSV.

To summarize, seven centuries before Jesus was born, Isaiah 7:14 “foreshadowed” the Savior’s birth. The regal titles given to the future Messiah by Isaiah were “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace” (chapter 9, verse 6). Fast-forward to the 21st century, and we hear these same terms at Christmastime in describing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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