The ‘Boy Child’ Of Isaiah 7, 9 And 11

2008 April 15
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tags: Bible, Book Of Isaiah, Christianity, GOD, Jesus, Jews, Judaism, Messiah, Poll, Prophecy, Tanakh

by LaVrai

All throughout the Book of Isaiah, the prophet writes of the future Messiah, savior of Israel and the whole world. Isaiah describes his birth, his name, his ancestry, his personality and how the world will react to him. I don’t believe any other book in the Bible gives such a clear picture of who this man is and will be. Next in my on-going study called Challenging Judaism, I examine the Book of Isaiah, chapters 7, 9 & 11. Please read it, question it and give input–and take the poll.

The ‘Sign’ In Isaiah 7

It is written in the Book of Isaiah 7:4-18 [the LORD instructs Isaiah what to say to King Ahaz of Judah amid an attempt on Jerusalem]

“…And say to him: Be firm and be calm. Do not be afraid and do not lose heart on account of those two smoking stubs of firebrands, on account of the raging of Rezin and his Arameans and the son of Remaliah. Because the Arameans–with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah–have plotted against you, saying, ‘We will march against Judah and invade and conquer it, and we will set up as king in it the son of Tabeel,’ thus said my Lord GOD: it shall not succeed, it shall not come to pass. For the chief city of Aram is Damascus, and the chief of Damascus is Rezin; the chief city of Ephraim is Samaria, and the chief of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. And in another sixty-five years, Ephraim shall be shattered as a people. If you will not believe, for you cannot be trusted…”

The LORD spoke further to Ahaz: “Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, anywhere down to Sheol or up to the sky.” But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask, and I will not test the LORD.”

“Listen, House of David,” [Isaiah] retorted, “is it not enough for you to treat men as helpless that you also treat my God as helpless? Assuredly, my Lord will give you a sign of His own accord! Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel. (By the time he learns to reject the bad and chose the god, people will be feeding on curds and honey.” For before the lad knows to reject the bad and choose the good, the ground whose two kings you dread shall be abandoned…”

GOD sent Isaiah to reassure King Ahaz that Jerusalem would not fall into the hands of these two kings from Aram and Remaliah, and that House of Ephraim (aligned with Remaliah), would fall in 65 years. The LORD says since Ahaz is a doubter and he might as well ask for a sign, which he pretends he doesn’t want, but Isaiah (insulted) gives him one anyway. Isaiah says (or the LORD), “The young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel.”

The Tanakh says the meaning of Immanuel is ‘with us is GOD.’

The sign which the LORD says He will give is not figurative or allegorical; He speaks of real people and events — a young woman who will give birth to a boy, whom she will call Immanuel. For Isaiah goes on to describe ‘the lad,’ as he calls him, eventually learning to discern good and bad, and choosing the good.

Other ‘Signs’ In The Bible

Before we move on, it may be necessary to point out what a sign is. We all know that when the sun is out, that means it is daylight; as for when the moon has dominance, we know it is night. Likewise, if we hear thunder or see lightening and/or the clouds darken, we know rain my be on the way. Signs are physical, real –we can see them, touch them, hear them, feel them,or smell them, etc.

Let’s look at some other signs in the Bible the LORD promises to give, all of which we should be familiar with:

1. GOD said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from night; they shall serve as signs for the set times–the days and the years. (Genesis 1:14)

2. And GOD said to Noah and to his sons with him, “I now establish My covenant with you and your offspring to come, and with every living thing that is with you… This is the sign that I set for the covenant between Me and you, and every living creature with you, for all ages to come. I have set My bow in the clouds, and it shall serve as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth… When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between GOD and all living creatures, all flesh that is on earth. (Genesis 9:8-17)

3. The LORD said to him [Moses] further “Put your hand into your bosom.” He put his hand into his bosom; and when he took it out, his hand was encrusted with snowy scales! And He said, “Put your hadn back into your bosom.”–He put his hand back into his bosom; and when he took it out of his bosom, there it was again like the rest of his body.–”And if they do not believe your or pay heed to the first sign [Moses' rod turns into a snake, and back into a rod], they will believe the second. And if they are not convince by both these signs and still do not heed you…” (Exodus 4:6-9)

4. [the LORD instructs Moses and Aaron in Egypt] They shall take some of the blood [from the prepared lamb] and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they are to eat it… For that night I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down every first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; …And the blood on the houses where you are staying shall be a sign for you: when I see the blood I will pass over you, so that no plague will destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:1-13)

5. Previously, the LORD had spoken to Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, untie the sackcloth from your loins and take your sandals off your feet,” which he had done, going naked and barefoot. And now the LORD said, “It is a sign and a portent for Egypt and Nubia. Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years, so shall the king of Assyria drive off the captives of Egypt..”

As we just noted above, signs are real — people, places and things that can be observed via the senses. Now, if it is written Assuredly, my Lord will give you a sign of His own accord! Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel. — do you doubt GOD meant what He said? If the LORD says a young woman would have a boy child and name him Immanuel, then expect there to be a young woman who gets pregnant and gives birth to a boy, and expect her to name him Immanuel.

The ‘Child’ Of Isaiah 9 And The ‘Shoot’ Of Isaiah 11

It is written in Isaiah 9:5-6 reads

For a child has been born to us, a son has been given us. And authority has settled on his shoulders. He has been named “The Mighty GOD is planning grace; the Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler”–In token of abundant authority and peace without limit upon David’s throne and kingdom, that it may be firmly established in justice and in equity now and evermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts shall bring this to pass.

Is it possible that Isaiah speaks of two Holy Boys…since the first one referenced to in Isaiah 7:14 will be named Immanuel [with us is GOD] and the one described in Isaiah 9:5-6 will also named “the Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler?” We know Isaiah is clearly speaking of one person, Messiah, and that both verses speak only of him. Messiah will be named Immanuel and will be born of a young woman and will sit on and rule righteously from David’s throne.

It is written in Isaiah 11:1-10

But a shoot shall grow out of the stump of Jesse [David's father], a twig shall sprout from his stock. The spirit of the LORD shall alight upon him: a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and valor, a spirit of devotion and reverence for the LORD. He shall sense the truth by his reverence for the LORD: h shall not judge by what his eyes behold, nor decide by what his ears perceive. Thus he shall judge the poor with equity and decide with justice for the lowly of the land with the rod of his mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of his lips. Justice shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his waist. …In that day, the stock of Jesse that has remained standing shall become a standard to peoples–nations shall seek his counsel and his abode shall be honored.

This passage in Isaiah 11 explains how Messiah, the boy born of a young woman and named Immanuel, will rule from David’s throne.

I would appreciate any feedback and/or questions.