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Immanuel - God With Us And Dwelt With Us

  • Writer: Grant Watts
    Grant Watts
  • 4 days ago
  • 4 min read

Nehemiah

God Dwelt With Us


The Sign of Immanuel: Isaiah 7:14


The Passage (NIV): "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."


I. The Historical Context: The Sign for King Ahaz (Isaiah 7:1-17)

Before examining the sign itself, it's crucial to understand the immediate situation:

  • The Crisis (vv. 1-6): King Ahaz of Judah is terrified. The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the kingdom of Syria (Aram) have allied themselves (the Syro-Ephraimite coalition) and are planning to invade and conquer Judah, depose Ahaz, and install their own puppet king.

  • God's Promise (vv. 7-9): God sends Isaiah to Ahaz with a message of reassurance: the enemies' plan will not stand. God tells Ahaz to be calm and trust Him.

  • Ahaz's Unbelief (vv. 10-12): God invites Ahaz to ask for any sign, no matter how miraculous, to prove this promise. Ahaz, feigning piety but actually planning to rely on the Assyrians instead of God, refuses the sign.

  • The Lord Gives the Sign (vv. 13-14): Because of Ahaz's refusal and lack of faith, God gives a sign to the "house of David" (the royal lineage and nation as a whole), not just Ahaz. This sign is the birth of Immanuel.


Discussion Points: 

  • Why was the sign of Immanuel given to the "house of David" and not just King Ahaz?

  • How does Ahaz's decision to trust in Assyria, despite God's clear promise, show a lack of understanding of "Immanuel"?

 

II. The Name: "Immanuel"

The name Immanuel is a compound Hebrew word:

Hebrew Part

Meaning

Immanu

"With Us"

El

"God"

Immanuel

"God With Us"

  • The Sign of Presence: In the immediate context (Isaiah 7:15-16), the birth and naming of this child signify that God is indeed "with" Judah, and before this child is old enough to discern right from wrong, the two enemy kings (Rezin and Pekah) will be destroyed. The name itself is the sign of God's saving presence.

  • The Sign of Divinity: Later in Isaiah, the Immanuel theme is developed with titles like "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6-7), suggesting a royal, divine person far beyond a child born in Ahaz's time.


Discussion Points: 

  • How does the meaning of Immanuel—"God With Us"—address the fear and crisis Ahaz and Judah were facing?

  • What does it imply about the character of God?

 

III. The Controversy: The "Virgin"

The word translated as "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14 is the Hebrew word ‘almah’

  • Meaning of 'almāh: The most common meaning is "young woman" or "maiden" of marriageable age. While this would typically imply a virgin in that culture, it does not explicitly mean "virgin" as the Hebrew word ‘betulah’ does.

  • The Sign's Miraculous Nature: If the word only meant a young woman giving birth naturally, many scholars argue it would not be a miraculous or astonishing sign, especially since Ahaz was invited to ask for a sign as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven.

  • Septuagint and New Testament Fulfillment: The ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) translated almah as parthénos which unambiguously means "virgin." The New Testament, in Matthew 1:22-23, quotes Isaiah 7:14 directly, using the word for "virgin" to explain the miraculous birth of Jesus:

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' (which means, God with us)."

Theological Conclusion: Dual Fulfillment

Most Christian commentators see this as a prophecy with a dual fulfillment:

  1. Near-Term Fulfillment (Ahaz's time): A child was born (perhaps to Isaiah's wife, as suggested in Isaiah 8:3) who served as a short-term sign that God was with His people for deliverance from the two kings.

  2. Ultimate Fulfillment (Jesus' time): The prophecy was fully and miraculously fulfilled 700 years later in the unique, virginal conception of Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, literally "God With Us."


Discussion Points: 

  • Why is it important for the sign to have been fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ?

  • How does Matthew's use of Isaiah 7:14 confirm Jesus' identity and mission?

 

IV. Life Application: God is With Us

The essence of "Immanuel" for believers today is God's Presence.

  • Comfort in Fear: Just as the name was a comfort to the house of David against the Syro-Ephraimite threat, it reminds us that God is with us in our moments of fear, uncertainty, and crisis.

  • The Incarnation: The ultimate fulfilment in Jesus means that "God With Us" is not just a promise of power or help, but a person. God became human to dwell among us (John 1:14).

  • Continuing Presence: Through the Holy Spirit, the risen Christ remains "with us" always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).


Reflection Question:

  • In what area of your life today—a challenge, a worry, or a decision—do you need the assurance of the name Immanuel: "God With Us"?

 

 
 
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