So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1: 22, 23, NKJV.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being willing to show us Your face, in the likeness of Your Son. In His name we thank You, as we enter the study of Your Word. Amen.
We are going to make a break in our devotional thought: “Knowledge Is Not Enough,” during this week, in order to, spend a few minutes, every day, looking at what the birth of Jesus has done for us. On Sunday, December 27, we will resume that topic. I pray that this is okay with all of us. My regrets if this has caused any discomfort to any of our faithful friends.
If I had to summarize the benefits of the birth of Christ in one sentence, it would be: It brought us life, and light, and hope! We were all enveloped in the darkness of sin and hopelessness – then Jesus came! When this promise was first given to the people of Israel, they were in the same condition! ‘”Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it. And it was told to the house of David, saying, ‘ “Syria’s forces are deployed in Ephraim.” ‘ So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind” (Isaiah 7: 1, 2). The darkness of hopelessness, caused by their sin, was hovering over the nation.
It was in the midst of their hopelessness that God sent this promise to His people, “Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, ‘ “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” ‘
But Ahaz said, ‘ “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!” ‘ Then he said, ‘ “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (10-14).
I am glad that the Lord does not wait until we completely understand what He is doing before He comes to our rescue! Here is the LORD Himself, through His prophet Isaiah, inviting Ahaz to ask Him for a sign. In his “piety,” Ahaz decides that he will not “test the LORD.” God makes it very plain, that we cannot weary Him, the way we weary human beings! Hallelujah! When God says prove me – just do it! Notice how completely capable God is to comply with His promises: ” ‘ “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” ‘ ” His power knows no limits! There are no heights and depths to His ability! He saves “to the uttermost, all who come to God by Him” (Hebrews 7: 25). There is nothing impossible with God (Luke 1: 37)!
And so the sign was given: “Immanuel,” “God with us,” “in the fullness of [God’s] time” (Galatians 4: 4), came to dwell with us! During this season, remember that He is the reason we have life, and light, and hope! Let us thank God, the Father, for sending us Immanuel! And let us thank Immanuel, the Son, for being willing to come! Amen!