The most noted and quoted prophecy concerning the birth of Christ is found in Isaiah 7:14. However, the circumstances of this prophecy given to Isaiah is yet another example of the grace of God and of the specific way in which He guides the history of the ages. In I Kings 11 Israel is divided into two kingdoms as a result of God’s judgment against Solomon’s sin and disobedience. The Northern Kingdom consisted of 10 tribes and is commonly referred to as Israel (and Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom had two tribes and was called Judah. This took place around 945 BC.
Now we come forward over 200 years to the time of Isaiah and the reign of Ahaz, the King of Judah (Southern Kingdom). This brings us to Isaiah 7:1-17. I’ll not quote these verses directly, but instead will simply try to explain what is happening here and fill in with some more background detail when necessary. In verse 1 Isaiah tells us during the reign of Ahaz, Pekah the King of Israel (Northern Kingdom) had allied himself with Rezin, the King of Syria, to defeat Judah. When you follow the history, Israel and Judah had been skirmishing with each other for most of these 200 years and by now Israel was so frustrated with their inability to defeat Judah that they had agreed to ally themselves with Syria, overthrow Judah and then allow the King of Syria to reign over the conquered land (in verse 6 the agreement was to share the spoils, but allow the son of Tabeal to be King – Rezin was the son of Tabeal).
Verse 2 tells us that when King Ahaz heard that the Northern Kingdom had allied itself with Syria “his heart and that of his people were moved like trees shaken in the wind”. It is at this point the Lord speaks to Isaiah in verse 3 and instructs him to meet with Ahaz. And he is to take with him his baby son named Shear-jashub, a name that was given him to confirm the prophecy that was about to be given (more on this later).
Then in verses 4-7 the Lord begins to tell Isaiah what he is to say to Ahaz. I’ll paraphrase, “Be careful (in the decisions you’re about to make during this troubled time), relax (and trust in Me), don’t be afraid (because of the circumstances you see) and don’t lack courage (because you think your enemies are stronger than you). These guys are nothing to fear. Their plan is to defeat you and put Rezin in your place, but it’s not going to happen.”
He goes on to say in verses 8-9 that Rezin will continue to be the King of Syria and Pekah will continue to be the King of Israel and will remain in Samaria. Then at the end of verse 9 comes this warning to Ahaz, “If you will not trust in me, then you will not continue (remain King of Judah). This, taken with the statement at the end of verse 7, tells us this is a conditional prophecy. That is, the Lord tells Ahaz in verses 7-9 to not be afraid and to trust Him, and then in verse 9 He says, if you don’t trust me, you’ll be destroyed.
Now, before we look at what happens next, it might be helpful to take a little closer look at Ahaz to put things in perspective. In II Kings 16:1-4 and II Chronicles 28:1-4 we see that Ahaz worshipped Baal and sacrificed his children in fire. He continually violated everything that honored God. So, God determines to put him to the test. In verse 11 we see this: “Ask for yourself a miracle (that would prove the Lord your God has spoken this and will keep His word), make it as difficult as you wish.”
But Ahaz, being so devoted to his idol worship, said he would not ask (verse 12). He was so deeply loyal to his idolatry that he did not want to know that God was actually willing to rescue him from this circumstance – it would require him to forsake everything he had done in his life. If you follow the history, Ahaz had hatched a plot to ally himself with Assyria, defeat the Northern Kingdom and unify the 12 tribes, then defeat Syria and give it to Assyria (II Kings 16). But, eventually, God will use Assyria to destroy Israel and lead it into captivity. The principle here is found all through scripture: when we choose our own way, God will grant us the freedom to make that choice; but He will discipline us for making that wrong choice and bring leanness (sorrow or regret) to our soul (Psalm 106:14-15).
This finally brings us to the subject of this paper. This is verse 13-17, “Then listen to this, it is a small thing for you to disregard the counsel of men, but will you disregard the counsel of God as well? Therefore, (since you will not ask Me for a miracle that would prove My trustworthiness) I will give you a miraculous sign: know this, a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and will call his name Immanuel (God with us). Curds and honey will he eat until he knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. For before this child shall know enough to refuse evil and choose good the land that you detest will be forsaken of her two kings. And the Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not been seen since the day the ten tribes separated themselves from Judah.” This is, then, a double prophecy, the birth of Christ in verse 14, then the impending destruction of both the Southern and Northern Kingdoms (II Chronicles 28:5-8;II Kings 17:1-6).
Now, let me explain a couple of things and then tie this all together. Remember Shear-jashub? The reference to curds and honey has to do with Isaiah’s baby son (verse 3). Curds and honey is baby food. The Lord is saying in this prophecy that the two kings that had conspired against Ahaz would be destroyed before Isaiah’s son was old enough to eat more solid food - in fact, before he was old enough to know the difference between evil and good. And that Ahaz and his people would be defeated as well and would experience misery beyond anything they had seen since Israel had been divided.
But, here’s the promise hidden in this prophecy that illustrates the grace of God – Shear-jashub means, “a remnant shall return”! Both the Southern and the Northern Kingdoms will be destroyed and the people taken from the land into captivity. But a remnant shall return. Israel will become a unified nation again. God will judge them for rejecting Him, but He has plans to still bless the remnant that will eventually return to the land. And most importantly He confirms to them that regardless of their rebellion and insistence on following strange gods, He is still committed to His plan of redemption – a plan set in motion by the unique birth of His Son!