December 8th

God’s story is amazing. It is powerful. It is truthful. It is reliable. It is historical. It is also profound.

Sometimes it tells us what happened. Sometimes it tells us what is happening. Sometimes it tells us what will happen. And sometimes….it does all three. At the same time. 

In the seventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah, we read a familiar prophecy that is contained within a message that, at the time, was current and relevant to the present situation. We’re not even sure Isaiah understood the depth to this entire message. Nonethless, it presents one of the most important promises of the coming Christmas.

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14)

There had been hints of a divine nature for the coming One. Hints that the One who would serve as a curse-crusher, faithful prophet, forever priest, and eternal king was different from everyone else. Here, Isaiah spells it out! The One who was on His way would be born to a virgin. This would be a holy pregnancy. This would be a never-happened-before kind of birth. He would be called Immanuel. That name meant “God with us.” 

So who was coming to fulfill the prophecy? This was more than a descendent of Judah. More than a prophet like Moses. More than a priest. More than a king.

Somehow…God was on His way!

Take a moment now to praise God for using unlikely methods and unlikely people to accomplish His plans. If you have ever felt like there are people more qualified than you to do great things for God, you’re not wrong. But God loves working in unlikely ways through unlikely people. Nearly 700 years after Isaiah said these words, a young virgin named Mary was told she would be the one chosen to fulfill this prophecy. Her response was to sing a worship song. Mary did not allow her feelings of unworthiness to keep her from praising God. Don’t let it stop you either.