Isaiah 7: 10 Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying,11 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Ahaz was king of Israel. Strong nations were gathering against him and were a viable threat. He approached Isaiah for guidance and help from the Lord. Many times things are so big and halt our lives. In the end, all the struggles in our day-to-day security will be over. Sometimes we ask God for a sign on how we’ll get through it. We all do it. Ahaz didn’t ask for a sign, but the Lord said he would give him one anyway. On the surface it seemed to have nothing to do with Israel’s present situation.
The sign had three parts. (1) A virgin shall conceive; that is a miracle in itself. (2) A son would be born. There had to be a father somewhere. The mother was a virgin; it meant the father would have to be divine. The son would have to come from God and be human and divine. (3) The son would be called Immanuel. God is coming to us. God is with us. God is becoming us. Jesus was 100% human and 100% God. This was God’s sign to Ahaz. He may have wanted to hear that the Syrian army would be defeated; instead he was told about this son that would be born of a virgin.
We need the Lord in our present hour. In our need we want to see something visible. It’s the same sign in Christmas 2014. Whatever besets us now we still have the same sign that Ahaz had. It’s the same sign the shepherds had—a baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.
What does that sign mean to you in your moments right now? The following comments were shared. (1) Needs are fulfilled. Gifts are expected to be accepted and opened. Jesus is our gift to open. (2) There is surety of a second coming because the first one happened as it was promised. Things won’t always be as they are. (3) Our sins can be forgiven. We like to be with family and friends and give gifts. That’s all right. Jesus came here from heaven to be our gift. What we do with him is important. (4) Jesus is the meaning for all seasons, not just Christmas. (5) I’m glad to know why we celebrate Christmas. I’m glad to have him in my heart. (6) He was God but he came to a lowly manger for someone as low as me. He gave his life for the whole world. All we have to do is accept him. (7) Jesus is with us every day. Christmas is special, but the point of it is missed by many. It should be Christmas every day.
Immanuel is God with us. The last words of Jesus were lo, I am with you always even to the end of the world. He’s still with us today. He’s enough. That’s sign enough for all of us.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 