Isaiah 7:14---Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

We know all of this, of course. Immanuel is Jesus. There is a longer passage in Isaiah 9 that talks of the same thing. Part of the miracle of the birth of the Christ is that in various places in the Old Testament, His birth, life and death are foretold. Every blood sacrifice in Scripture is a foretelling of the coming Messiah and His sacrifice. The events surrounding His conception and birth are just a part of the miracle. Isaiah is particularly blessed because he saw both the birth of Christ and the death of Christ (Isaiah 53). The exactness of the prophetic Word is denied today by the great ‘thinkers,’ but I think that is because they are fearful of becoming no longer relevant. That was the situation in the time of Jesus, and mankind has not changed.

But as always, you cannot just take a single verse and discern what the Lord is saying. Isaiah 7 is written with impending war as the back drop. Isaiah is talking to Ahaz, the king. Ahaz was a sinful man who would come to hate Isaiah. Here, Isaiah is bringing the Word of God to Ahaz as he faces war against an overpowering army. God offers to something to Ahaz.

Isaiah 7:10-14---¹⁰ Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: ¹¹ “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” ¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” ¹³ And Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

This is not just a foretelling of the coming Messiah. The Lord was going to show His grace and mercy to this sinful man. God offers Ahaz anything, anything at all, so that He can show the king His power. Why does Ahaz turn the offer down? Well, Ahaz was a Jew, so He knew the stories of God’s grace. He knew God would come through. But he also knew that during the Exodus there was a problem of people ‘testing’ the Lord. They were arguing among themselves and questioning if God was even among them. They were ‘testing’ His patience. But here God makes the offer! My belief on this is that Ahaz felt that if he took the Lord up on His offer, he would owe the Lord. The Lord says, fine, then I will show you the greatest of signs. And then, the prophecy of the Child.

This teaches a lesson that most people ignore. Most people just see the prophecy of the Messiah. However, the purpose of the prophecy is lost on them. Ahaz was being offered anything. Many years before, the same offer had been given to Solomon. Solomon said all he really wanted was wisdom to better rule the people, and God blessed him with that, and more. But Ahaz has nothing. What might have been?

If Ahaz had asked for the ability to do diplomacy and save his people, it would have happened. And likely other blessings, as well. If Ahaz had asked for God to annihilate his enemies, it would have happened. God said any thing he wanted. That is amazing. I think if Ahaz had said he wanted to be 6’4” and handsome (in other words, some trivial personal thing) God have just rolled His eyes. But whatever Ahaz wanted in relation to the issue at hand, it would be done. However, he refused, so God promised the sign of all signs.

The lesson for us is this: whatsoever we ask in His name, will be given to us. I often point out that names in the Bible are taken from the language. They are just regular words, but they express the essence of the person. So, asking something in Jesus’ name is asking for His will to be done. The name Jesus means Jehovah saves, so when you ask in His name you are expressing a desire to see His salvation in others and, whether you know it or not, you asking for that which is needed so that Jehovah can save.

But the Lord can do great things. Things that are not conceivable. Things that go beyond the realm of imagination. He specializes in the impossible. If God leads you to it, it will be done. The only obstacle is our faith, or lack thereof.

In that moment in time, Ahaz could have become as great and mighty as Solomon. Instead, he turned out to be just another name in the list of kings.

What is the impossible wall that faces you or the church? Accept His offer and live up to it.