2023_09_06 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- 2 Kings 17, Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7, 1 Peter 2
The Old Testament book of Isaiah is fascinating. In Talk Thru the Bible (a great resource for Bible study – and yes, it is thru not through!) we discover that Isaiah is the most quoted Old Testament writer in the New Testament. This is important because in Isaiah chapter 7 we come across this passage, “…the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 15 By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. 16 For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.” Isaiah 7:14–16 (NLT)
Just a few years after Isaiah spoke this prophecy, Isaiah and his wife had a child that initially fulfilled the first part of this prophecy (see Isaiah 8). The second part of Isaiah’s prophesy was a clear message of God’s coming judgment against His people who had rejected Him time and time again. First, it would be Israel (the Northern Kingdom), and several years later Judah (after showing God’s power and that Ahaz had seriously underestimated Judah). God delivers Judah from Assyria defying the odds. God wanted all His people to know that their desperate attempts at political and military alliances were never a better path than depending on Him. But there is more to this prophecy than just what happened in the 8th century BC. In the original context, we see God declaring that He is loving and powerful. Fast forward to the 1st century and we discover the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy, a second supernatural act of God predicted by Isaiah – sending His son Immanuel to rescue us from our sin. As I mentioned before, Immanuel means “God with us” and in both the original context where Isaiah spoke, and later at Jesus’ birth, we see the reality of God’s power, purpose, and presence.
“Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:20–23 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor