“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”

Isaiah 7:1–14; 9:1–7

Luke 1:26–38

A most remarkable Christmas promise was given by the prophet Isaiah to King Ahaz when two armies stood against Jerusalem. God sent Isaiah to assure the king of the Lord’s protection. Even though Ahaz was wicked, God extended mercy. When Ahaz learned of the armies ready to attack, he shook with fear (Isaiah 7:2).

Isaiah comforted Ahaz and told him the Lord would protect him and that Ahaz should ask the Lord for a sign of this salvation. Isaiah told Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven” (Isaiah 7:11). Even though Ahaz was a wicked king God offered to show him a sign of his salvation.

If King Ahaz had asked God as a sign to split the sun in half, God would have done it. But Ahaz was afraid. He didn’t want to test God. Isaiah responded by giving Ahaz the greatest sign of all time, even greater than splitting the sun. He said, “The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The name Immanuel means God with us. So the child Isaiah foretold would be both God and man.

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