The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Sign” it comes from the Hebrew Word “oth” which means “sign.”
Isaiah delivers a remarkable prophecy of a coming sign involving a virgin-born child. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Isaiah 7.
Isaiah describes how in the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, Syria and Israel came up together against Jerusalem to war against it, but could not overcome it, the house of David being told that Syria is confederate with Ephraim, so their heart was moved as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind, the Lord sending Isaiah to meet Ahaz, urging him to fear not, since these two smoking firebrands would soon come to nothing.
Isaiah urges Ahaz to ask a “sign,” “oth” in Hebrew, of the Lord his God, whether in the depth, or in the height above, but Ahaz refuses, saying he will not ask, neither will he tempt the Lord, Isaiah responding with frustration that they weary men, but will they weary his God also, declaring the Lord Himself shall give them a sign, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” describing how before this child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that Ahaz dreads shall be forsaken of both her kings.
Isaiah describes coming judgment upon Judah as well, the Lord bringing upon them and upon Ahaz’s father’s house days that have not come since Ephraim departed from Judah, even the king of Assyria, describing how the Lord will hiss for the fly in the uttermost part of Egypt, and for the bee in the land of Assyria, and they shall come and rest all of them in the desolate valleys, closing with a description of the land becoming overgrown with briers and thorns, this chapter’s famous virgin-birth prophecy pointing forward far beyond its immediate historical context toward its ultimate fulfillment centuries later in the birth of Christ.
Isaiah’s famous prophecy, behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and call his name Immanuel, delivered originally as a sign for King Ahaz’s immediate situation, carries meaning that ultimately reaches its fullest, complete fulfillment centuries later in Christ’s virgin birth. Ahaz’s refusal to ask for a sign, appearing falsely humble, actually reveals genuine unbelief, showing that declining God’s gracious offer of assurance can itself become a form of resistance rather than piety.
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