Immanuel's Story
The birth of Immanuel is presented as a sign of God’s help as war approached:
“Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart…” — Isaiah 7v4.
Similarly, Jesus tells us not to fear wars and rumours of war (Mat 24v6-8).
With war approaching Isaiah instructed King Ahaz of Judah to ask God for a sign, but the king refused. God however would go ahead in giving signs for Judah.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7v14).
The birth of Isaiah’s son, Immanuel foreshadowed the birth of Jesus. The whole pattern of Jesus' life is revealed typologically:
Immanuel means “God with us”, but before the child grew enough to know right from wrong the King of Assyria came and destroyed the land. (Isaiah 7v15 onwards). The war came like ‘a flood up to the neck,’ (Is 8v8).
The surviving remnant continued with God for a long time while Assyria ruled the world, until
Judgement came on Jerusalem (Is 29). Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city and the temple.
Jesus is the temple. He destroyed and rebuilt the temple in three days — at the cross (John 2v19-22).
Again we see the whole life of Jesus presented symbolically. Isaiah’s children and the faithful remnant reveal God’s plan of salvation for the end times.
