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Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” – Matthew 1:22-23
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14
In the first verse above, Matthew quotes a passage in the Old Testament (the second verse) that appears not only out of context, but completely askew with the Messiah Jesus Christ. Isaiah is speaking to a wimpy king of Judah named Ahaz who is frightened about being taken over by surrounding nations. What does this circumstance have to do with the coming Messiah?
Believe it or not, the answer lies in the names of the three sons of Isaiah. God used the names of the prophet Isaiah’s three sons to reinforce a message to Ahaz. This was not the first time God spoke through names of people. Remember Abraham (Father of many), Israel (He who struggles with God) and Joshua (Savior)?
Isaiah’s first son’s name, Shear-Jashub (Isaiah 7:3), means “a remnant shall return.” The idea of a remnant preserved by God in spite of horrible endings of history is an important and prevalent theological theme found in the Old Testament.
Isaiah’s second (yet to be born) son’s name was to be Immanuel to illustrate the fact that “God is with us,” another theme reiterated throughout the Old Testament. This has been a crucial, indeed central, profession about God throughout the Bible. In various forms, “I will be with you” has always been a promise of God to individuals and to His people when they are faced with circumstances that they cannot overcome on their own. This promise of the presence of God in the midst of crises and fear is central to the nature of the God of the Old Testament. (For further reading on God’s desire to dwell with his creation see God is with Us!).
By the way, Isaiah’s third child was to be called Maher-shalal-hash-baz which means “swift to the spoils, speedy to the prey.” Try fitting that name in a Christmas carol!!!
In Christ,
Dave
Other articles in this series:
Jesus – More Than a Name
The Word – Reason for our Existence
Bethlehem – House of Bread
Jesus – God in the Flesh
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