|
News for the Pews |
Home
6th July 2024
SaturdayReflection
************************
Robby Lashua shares
of 'Stand to Reason'
'Did You Miss Something in the Isaiah 7v14 Prophecy?'
************************
Have you ever thought you were so familiar with something, only to find out later you'd been overlooking some important details?
Sometimes this happens to us with familiar Bible passages too.
Here's the familiar: Jesus was born of a virgin, and Isaiah 7:14 prophesied about it. Nothing shocking yet.
But let's look at the details surrounding Isaiah's statement about the virgin birth.
King Ahaz of Judah was having a bad day.
Ephraim and Syria were attacking Jerusalem and trying to overthrow the king.
God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign, but Ahaz refuses. God gives him one anyway.
Here it is:
"Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel"
(Isa. 7:14).
Wait a second.
How is the prophecy about Jesus being born of a virgin a sign for Ahaz?
Jesus won't be born for another 700 years.
Let's keep reading.
He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken. (Isa. 7:15-16)
These verses explain the sign God is giving Ahaz.
A baby named Immanuel will be born, and before the child is very old, the kings attacking Ahaz will be gone.
This was fulfilled in Ahaz's day, and the little boy named Immanuel was an ongoing sign that God delivered Ahaz and Judah.
We find in the very next chapter of Isaiah that Immanuel was living during Ahaz's reign
(Isa. 8:8).
If your city were under siege by Ephraim and Syria, you most likely wouldn't name your child "God with us" - maybe "God help us."
The sign of a baby being given the name Immanuel indicated that in a very short time, the war would be over.
Now, I know what you are thinking.
Isn't Isaiah 7:14 about Jesus' virgin birth?
Are there two virgin births in the Bible?
The short answer is no. Let me explain.
The word used for "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14 is the Hebrew word 'alma'.
This word refers to a young woman, a maid, or a newly married woman.
Though young women were usually virgins (if unmarried), this Hebrew word didn't refer specifically to a virgin (someone who hasn't had sex).
That word is 'betula',and it's frequently used in the Old Testament
The Isaiah 7:14 sign given to Ahaz wasn't about a miraculous virgin birth.
It was about the name of a child soon to be born, which signified the war would be over.
So, was Jesus born of a virgin or just a young woman?
To answer this question, we need to see something new in the familiar.
Matthew wrote his Gospel in Greek, not Hebrew.
When Matthew quotes Isaiah 14:7, he quotes the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament that was completed prior to Jesus' birth.
The reason it's important for our question is that it shows us the Greek word the translators used for the Hebrew word 'alma'.
That word is 'parthenos'.
Here's where things get interesting.
When the Septuagint was translated from Hebrew into Greek, the word 'parthenos' meant "a young woman of marriable age," much like the Hebrew word 'alma'.
However, by the time Matthew wrote his Gospel, the word 'parthenos' had come to mean "one who has never engaged in sexual intercourse."
So, what does all this mean?
Matthew tells us that "all this took place to fulfil what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet".
This sign, given by God to Ahaz, was fulfilled in the child Immanuel, who was born to a young woman during Ahaz's reign.
But Matthew tells us there's a further fulfillment of this sign in the virgin birth of Jesus.
This shows us that God, the true author of Scripture, not only can accurately predict future events but is also sovereign over the development of language.
God knew Isaiah 7:14 would be further fulfilled by Jesus' birth to a virgin, even though the original sign wasn't about a virgin, but a young woman giving birth to a son and naming him Immanuel.
I hope these new details to these familiar passages leave you in awe of our God.
He not only knows the future, but he also knows how language will develop over time.
He inspires human authors of Scripture to record signs that will have a fuller meaning 700 years in the future.
What a powerful, awesome, and intelligent God we serve.
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article is avaiable on request
'Stand to Reason'
trains Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make an even-handed, incisive, yet gracious defence for classical Christianity and classical Christian values in the public square.
Robby Lashua is the newest Apologist at 'Stand to Reason.'
Formerly, Robby was the Pastor of Apologetics at Desert Springs Community Church in Goodyear, AZ, an Associate Professor at Mission Bible Institute, and host of Christ, Culture & Coffee, a weekly apologetics podcast.
Robby has a passion for equipping the church with good reasons to believe in classical Christianity.
Contact the Rector
The Revd.
Nic.Edwards
The Rectory,
Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE,
Northampton,
NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 - 815496
(Can be accessed from the mobile device)
Mobile: .....
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed,, Thur., Fri.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
Who Made This?
Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful
advice or report factual corrections and
'deliberate mistakes',email:-
regparker3 at gmail dot com
Email addresses shown using words in an
attempt to avoid 'spam',
Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@',
and 'dot' with '.'
|