“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us).”

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

Many of us have heard this passage time and time again. That is with good reason as it is one of the clearest texts in the Old Testament to point to the coming of Jesus. However, this passage is most significant as its original meaning pointed not just to Christ, but to immediate salvation.

In chapter 7 of Isaiah, the prophet is sent to the current king of Judah. The king at that time, Ahaz, was afraid that Judah was going to be destroyed by the king of Israel and the king of Syria. Isaiah was sent by God to encourage the king.

            This passage points to a young boy that is to be born in the coming months. The Lord gives the name of the child as Immanuel. The word we translate as “virgin” in this passage can also mean “young woman.” So in this context, a child will be born to a young woman and, as we are told in verses 15-17, the two kingdoms that threaten Judah are destroyed before the child knows good from evil.

So when this child arrives, the threat to Judah will be gone and they will be saved. But that’s not the only meaning. This points us directly to the ultimate salvation from the ultimate threat. It points to the coming of Jesus who, by His death, will not only destroy evil kings but evil itself. This is the ultimate salvation and not a temporal one. This is not just a child, but the Savior Himself coming as a child to save us from our sins. He came born from a virgin, which is a miracle from God.

This week, think on the salvation that God brings. It’s not just temporal or temporary salvation, but salvation that lasts for eternity.