The kings of Aram and Israel were part of a Syrian coalition trying to defend the region from the growing threat of Assyria. As king of Judah, Ahaz was possibly a part of that Assyrian coalition. At the very least, he was leaning toward the Assyrians. In response to this nearby threat to their safety, Aram and Israel moved against Judah to claim their territory. In the face of this military force, King Ahaz was overwhelmed with fear.
God sent a message of comfort and hope to Ahaz through Isaiah and his son Shear-Jashub. Isaiah’s son name meant, “a remnant shall escape” ––the message Isaiah was sent to deliver. God promised that the city of Jerusalem would not be taken, and that these two kingdoms would soon fall. God promised Ahaz a sign to reassure him. The promise revealed God’s forethought and intentional design of a plan that would produce a very special baby. The fulfillment of the promise made to Ahaz came some 800 years later when Jesus was born. The plan was for Immanuel, “God with us,” to come and be with us through the womb of a young woman who was a virgin (Mt. 1:21b-23).
Isaiah 7:14 The use of the word “therefore” tied these verses with the historical story of the Syrian conquest. King Ahaz of Judah was terrified at the looming threat to Jerusalem. His profound fear indicated his lack of trust in the living God who had so graciously stayed near to the people of Judah, even though they continued to act in disobedience toward Him. “Therefore,” God Himself went to extreme lengths to assure them of His everlasting love.
In light of the political dangers, God made an elaborate promise––a baby was to be born of a virgin as a sign of God’s intention to always be near and among His people. This would be a crucial component of this coming sign. The language used in the verse indicated both age and sexual orientation. A young girl who had never had sex would become pregnant with a son. It was not uncommon in eastern religions for at least one such distinctive description to be made about coming signs. However, this was unique enough that Ahaz’s attention would have been captured in the midst of a promise that his city would not be conquered.
That Son would be called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” The title is significant. In Ahaz’s day, Jewish worship of God had become ritualistic, hypocritical, and insincere. Even the priests were hiding their sins behind routine worship, rather than striving for a thriving relationship with God (Isa. 1). Yet, God desired love relationships, not hollow religiosity. In the 800 years that followed before the birth of Jesus, the Jews began to wonder if God was actually with them: Had He left them as He had left King Saul? Would God keep His promises? Prophets reassured them that God would remain faithful even though the people had not. Yet, the people still wondered. Then, God fulfilled the Isaiah 7 promise through the birth of Jesus––God came to be with us. How forgetful the people had been. God, in His mercy, reminded them anyway that it was all part of God’s plan.
Isaiah 7:15 Curds and honey were common foods among the poor of Middle Eastern during Ahaz’s day and beyond, and were given to babies and young children for their development. Yet, Isaiah used the coming child’s diet to explain the future. First, the verses and chapters that follow speak not only of the desolation of the land of Aram and Israel (the two Kings who were attacking Judah), but also of Judah. After the desolation, planted crops and other food sources were devastated, and only curds and honey would be left to eat. Second, eating curds and honey would not only be for physical development, but spiritual development as well. The child, along with the people, would be reminded of their dependence upon what God gave them rather than what they could produce. It would drive them back to being with God.
The latter half of the verse refers to the boy’s development in making obedient decisions. Immanuel would come and show the people how to listen to and obey God, rather than to ignore and disobey Him. God desired for His people to be restored to choosing good (the things of God and the ways of love) rather than evil (the things of self and selfishness).
Isaiah 7:16 The word “for” at the beginning of the verse indicates a cause and effect. Immanuel would be born, He would eat curds and honey, and He would be a sign of rejecting evil and turning to God because “the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.” Notice the contrast. God would be with Judah. God would make desolate anyone trying to force Judah out of this land.
Matthew 1:21b: Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 7 was fulfilled in Matthew 1:21b-23. As Joseph considered his options of breaking off his betrothal to Mary, an angel came from God in a dream, assuring him of Mary’s faithfulness. The angel said Mary had been chosen to carry the child conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Joseph had also been chosen specifically to be the earthly father to Mary’s son. As a Jewish father, Joseph was given the significant task of naming the child. The angel instructed Joseph to name the baby “Jesus,” meaning “God saves.” The angel said that “Jesus” would save the people from their sins. This promise would have carried with it implications that this was the Messiah. Joseph must have been overcome with the significance of this moment and this birth.
Matthew 1:22-23 To put this into historical significance, Matthew reminded his readers of the prophecy of Isaiah about the coming “Immanuel” (Isa. 7–9). The name “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us,” may be the most basic and most accurate summary of the Gospel. This “good news” was the first of many prophecy references that Matthew included in his Gospel account. By recording the prophecy of Jesus as the promised Messiah, Matthew documented what Jesus was sent to do while He was with us.