A Sign!

A Sign!

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 KJV

A little context: Syria and the kingdom of Israel had come together to fight Judah. One of the plans of the unholy alliance was that a new king would be installed in Judah after Syria and Israel had defeated the king of Judah. First of all, remember the promise God made to David: 'You will never fail to have a man sit on the throne'. Here were mortal men trying to overturn God's established order and promise. Let it be known that there is no force or power in heaven or on earth that can overturn what God has said. As long as it is a sure Word from God, it is backed up by the very nature of God Himself, who is unable to lie and who has power, capacity and capability to bring to pass all He has promised.

And Isaiah asked Ahaz to ask God for a sign that God could keep his promise. First of all, it is odd that God would ask man for a sign that He could keep his promise, but since He had asked, it was left to Ahaz to do as requested. However, either for false humility or sheer ignorance, Ahaz claimed he would not tempt God by asking for a sign. We know how that went: God is not man, so He is not limited to the usual inconsistencies known to man. God Himself would give a sign: one that will reverberate throughout eternity. 

The sign is one that underscores God's mighty power. Never before the time of Mary or since then has a virgin conceived without human interference. That is a sign that with God, the usual is the miraculous. That sign given then is the reason for this present season. Christmas is not about the particular day but it is about the person, the sign that was given then, and which is personified in Jesus Himself. 

Even the name given is instructive: Immanuel means God with us. The almighty God found it necessary to come down to our level, identify with us and give us a divine opportunity to know God. His Presence is never-ending; the name is always in the present. God's Presence isn't subject to how I feel or what I think, but its manifestation is subject to my cooperation. God would not force Himself on me, but He wants me to give Him room willingly. 

It is the season of Christmas; the season of giving and the season of life. God has done his bit; it then remains what my reaction would be. His time of favour is here.