Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isa. 7:14)
Expanded Passage: Isaiah 7:14
Signs point the way—or at least, that’s their purpose. The clarity of a sign largely depends on the communication ability of the sign designer. Sometimes signs don’t point, but confuse the way. One sign at an earring store read, “We pierce ears, half off.” Out on the highway a sign was seen that gave the directive, “Cruise Ships—Use Airport Exit” while at another place, two signs, posted side by side, warned, “Right Lane Ends; Left Lane Closed.
Two thousand years ago, God provided a very strange sign that must have utterly confused those who read it, “The virgin will . . . give birth to a son.” Those reading Isaiah’s prophecy must have concluded that his words were a mistake. Impossible! The sign-giver must have been saying something metaphorically. But he wasn’t.
This child not only pointed the way for humanity’s salvation, but also embodied the way in the person of Jesus. This sign could not be properly understood until fulfilled. The arrival of Jesus was the sign that God can do the impossible: a virgin birth for Mary and a spiritual birth for sinners. Both miracles were delivered through the Holy Spirit, and that sign read with unmistakable clarity, “I love you!”
Take the sign of the virgin birth at face value.
Jim Miller is a chaplain in the Army National Guard. He and his wife, Renee, live in Washington, DC, and enjoy spending time traveling with their two children. Jim recently released his first book, Vitamin T: Essential Biblical Truths for Growing Disciples (WPH).
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
