Isaiah 7:14
From: M
To: Real Messiah
I read the book by Arnold Fruchtenbaum on Messianic Christology and received Jesus as Messiah. Afterwards, though, I began reading Dr. Brown's book on Messianic Objections. The material contradicted Fruchtenbaum's conclusion on Isa. 7:14. It's discouraging now for me. In Dr. Brown's book it said that he has studied the subject for quite a few years. While it is a challenging passage.... Could you provide a resource for at least one possible solution to the passage that is workable?
Thanks
M
From: Real Messiah
To: M
M,
I would be glad to help you work through the challenges you have encountered between the writings of Dr. Brown and Dr. Fruchtenbaum regarding Isaiah 7:14. Would you please provide me with more details? Knowing the specifics of what you are wrestling with will help me know better where we need to begin.
Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you. The Real Messiah Team
From M:
To: Real Messiah
It was important for me to know that Jesus was truly the messiah and not a deceiver. I found that Arnold Fruchtenbaum's book provided the answers to show that prophecies showed that the messiah would be both human and divine. I prayed to God - placing my trust in a triune God and confessing my sins.
I decided to dig deeper into the prophecies. The first prophecy that seems to come up in the New Testament is in Matthew, so I thought I should start with Isa. 7:14. Dr. Brown's book "Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus - Messianic Prophecy Objections (V. 3)" seemed to be a good place to dig in. On p. 17 (Section 4.3) he talks about Isa. 7:14. His conclusion is very different from Fruchtenbaums (he says the verse can essentially be split in two - relating to 2 different time frames and says with assurance that it is a virgin). My main concern is that there is a possible solution to this passage that might be workable. The two authors / scholars are so different, that it made be doubt the whole of what I had based by belief in! How do I know for sure about Jesus as Messiah? I don't even care at this point if the word is really for a virgin or a young maiden. I would like to know what are one or two possible, reasonable solutions to what this prophecy relates to. Dr. Brown's conclusion is that "...From our current vantage point, it is impossible to determine exactly what the prophecy meant to the original hearers....." At the same time, he doesn't seem to state what is a possible good solution to the problem. I understand that he might not want to put it down in this book (or, I just missed it!), but I was counting on it. Dr. Brown has studied this for 30 years. The footnote on p. 206 mentions "Christmas in Isa. 7:145, Senus Literalis, Sensus Plenior aut Felix Culp?' - but I can't find this article on the internet. If can help me find it, it may be helpful. All I know is that I need to find a possible answer (is it Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz?; Jesus only? two-time periods?). I know we can't know for sure... but... I need some possible answer that might even be likely in Dr. Brown's opinion. As far as whether the word means "virgin" or not - I understand now, that's not an issue for me at this point.
Thanks for any help you can give me. I'd appreciate it - a lot.
M
From: Real Messiah
To: M
Hi M,
Let's begin by taking a step back and looking at the big picture. Dr. Fructenbaum and Dr. Brown highlight some different points about Is 7:14 in their writings. However, both of these highly regarded scholars come to the same conclusion: Isaiah 7:14 is indeed pointing to Yeshua and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Him.
I want to encourage you to re-read the section in question from volume three. Specifically, start half way down on page 24 until you reach half way down on page 28. In these pages, Dr. Brown explains how Matthew rightly reported that Is 7:14 was "fulfilled" in Yeshua. Essentially, Dr. Brown sums up his conclusion on page 28 with these words:
For Matthew – rightly so – the Hebrew Bible was the Messiah’s Bible, and therefore, given the fact that Yeshua was literally Immanuel, God with us; given the fact that the Immanuel prophecy was clearly directed to the house of David; given the fact that Miriam, Yeshua’s mother was an almah who had never known a man; given the fact that the surrounding context in Isaiah contained highly significant Messianic prophecies, it is no wonder that Matthew pointed to Isa 7:14 as being “fulfilled” in the birth of Jesus the Messiah. Who else fulfilled it? Or, put another way, since Matthew knew beyond a doubt that Jesus was the Messiah and since he knew that Yeshua was born of a virgin, was he wrong to quote Isa 7:14 in reference to his miraculous birth? Was it not another, important link in the chain of promises and prophecies given to David and his line?
Dr. Brown and Dr. Fruchtenbaum may disagree on how the original hearers understood the promise in Isaiah's day. And they may disagree regarding the meaning of the word "almah". However, they are in total agreement regarding the main points in this discussion. Perhaps this summary statement that I wrote the other day will be helpful to you:
Regarding Isaiah 7:14, there seems to be a degree of mystery in Isaiah 7 which leaves us uncertain as to how the text was fulfilled in the days of Ahaz. In my view, I think that Matthew's primary reason for noting Isaiah 7:14 as "fulfilled" by Yeshua (Mt 1:23) was the fact that there were great parallels between the promise found in Isaiah 7 and what happened in the life of Yeshua. At a time when the Jewish people needed hope and deliverance, God gave the promise of a baby boy who would come into the world in some kind of unusual nature that would serve as a "sign" for the House of David. This unusual birth, born to a young girl (an "almah") would be an Immanuel "God with us" type of event that would provide security to the Jewish people in the face of their enemies. Surely, you can see the tremendous parallels. And being that Yeshua was born to an "almah," in a highly unusual way (virgin birth), to be a sign of deliverance, literally as Immanuel...it is no wonder that Matthew saw Isaiah 7:14 as fulfilled in Yeshua.
I'll stop there for now on the specifics with Isaiah 7:14. If this is not helping, let me know and I'll try to zero in closer.
I'd like to also add a word of encouragement to you. I think it is fantastic that you are digging deep into the Scriptures and pursuing answers to questions that come up. Keep mining! There are precious treasures to be found for those who press hard into God's Word!
That being said, this will probably not be the last time that you encounter difficulties when studying the Scriptures! When difficult questions arise, I encourage you to keep in mind that even though you (and I!) don't have all of the answers, God does. Our inability to understand and synthesize all of the data does not negate the basic truths of Scripture. In this age where sin is still present and where our understanding is still partially veiled, there will be difficulties and unanswered questions. But the fact is that God has made most of the truth found in Scripture very plain and clear. Our trust that Yeshua is the Messiah does not rest on one, two or even a handful of prophecies (not to under-value the prophecies - they are very important). Rather, the whole story of God's redemptive plan found in Scripture points to him. From the history of Israel, to the sacrifices offered in the Tabernacle and Temples, to the prophetic significance of the Biblical holidays...there is so much that points to Yeshua. I am sure that you will uncover more and more of this in the seasons to come. So...don't get hung up on one passage or issue! Aggressively pursue answers, by all means. But don't let doubts and questions rob you of the joy you have found in the presence of God through Yeshua. This is a ploy of the Evil One (Satan). Keep in mind John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." May nothing hinder you from having abundant joy in Yeshua. This is what you were made for!
The Real Messiah Team
From M:
To: Real Messiah
You've given me a lot of food for thought. I need to think more about what you said. I particularly need to reflect on:
"Our trust that Yeshua is the Messiah does not rest on one, two or even a handful of prophecies (not to under-value the prophecies - they are very important). Rather, the whole story of God's redemptive plan found in Scripture points to him. From the history of Israel, to the sacrifices offered in the Tabernacle and Temples, to the prophetic significance of the Biblical holidays...there is so much that points to Yeshua."
I need to be reminded to step back and look at the whole picture and to reinforce the other facts I know in my mind. You are right in that I need to reflect on that God's redemptive plan in the history of Israel, sacrifices and holidays points to Yeshua. I need to read more in these areas, so if you think of books or articles that you have found particularly helpful, please direct me that way. I just received a DVD on the Feast Days and how they looked forward to Yeshua which should be helpful along this line.
I re-read the section you suggested. You are right, Dr. Brown does give a possible solution. He suggests "...Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz in chapter 8, seems to take the place of the Immanuel prophecy in chapter 7 in terms of the immediate historical context spoken ...." I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the concept. I just wish Isaiah had stopped the prophecy in Isa. 7:14 before going on to say that "...before the knows how to reject what is bad...." That really makes it sound like the fulfillment would be in the immediate future.
I know this e-mail is so much shorter than the work you put into the one to me. I just want to say again how much I appreciate that you e-mailed back! This issue has been quite a stumbling block for me.
Kind Regards, M