“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”
(which means “God with us”)”
(which means “God with us”)”
Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)
Matthew’s “editorial comment” on the contents of the communication between the angel and Joseph takes us back to Isaiah 7. I wonder if you believe that the bible is inspired by God Himself, that God wrote these words down for us, using the writers as pens for His Words? I believe that, and that belief causes me to see this “editorial comment” as revelation by God’s Spirit as to the nature of the prophecy of Isaiah, given to King Ahaz 700 years before Mary’s pregnancy. The prophecy was given to King Ahaz, as a sign to encourage Ahaz to trust God. The prophecy seemed to be fulfilled by the activities recorded in Isaiah 8, and yet there was more to this prophecy than just the local fulfillment. There was a greater fulfillment to come- the birth of the Messiah, the King who would deliver His people from their sin. Ahaz didn’t believe, he didn’t trust God despite the local fulfillment of the sign (which by itself is amazing that in 700 BC Isaiah could name the gender of a baby not yet conceived). What about us? Do we believe? Will we trust God today with everything- big or small? For we have been given a sign, a sign of God’s love, God’s care and God’s grace for us!
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