Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God” … But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:10–14 NKJV
This crucial prophecy was given under very trying circumstances. King Ahaz was one of the very worst kings of Judah. The kings of the neighboring countries of Israel and Syria had joined together to make war against Judah and replace Ahaz as king. God had Isaiah take his son with him to meet Ahaz and tell him not to fear these two kings and their plans against him. Ahaz was a descendant of godly King David, to whom God had promised that his descendants would rule over His earthly people. Though Ahaz was unfaithful, God is always faithful to His word. These kings and their nations would soon fall prey to the conquering Assyrians.
But God in His marvelous ways chose this precise time to reveal that the virgin, the special one of His choice, would conceive and bear a Son, a Son who was to be called Immanuel—God with us! Wicked Ahaz became a vassal of the Assyrians, going to Damascus to meet their king. There he saw an altar whose pattern he sent to Urijah the priest, that he might make one like it. He replaced the brazen altar of burnt offering with this new one and made offerings on it himself.
How wonderful that God would reveal to this wicked king this precious truth that His Son would be virgin-born! God has made known much more truth about His Son Jesus, Immanuel, in His Word. Sadly, many people know about Jesus’ birth, and maybe even celebrate it, but go on in their sinful ways. Have you received Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as your Savior? If not, do this today!