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

This prophecy came to the people of Judah as they were under the rule of King Ahaz who promoted worship of idols in all conceivable forms even resorting to sacrificing his own sons. Still God gave Ahaz a last chance to turn back and trust the true God. Ahaz refused and what followed was the wonderful prophecy spoken through Isaiah written above.

Why was this so wonderful and even unbelievable? The word Immanuel means God with us. Through the birth of Jesus, from a virgin mother, God himself would enter into the world in the form of a human baby! No human could conceive a child that was both true God and true man. Rather, the Holy Spirit would be the source of this life.

And yet, even though Isaiah was well read by the early New Testament Jews, the fulfillment of this prophecy was not fully understood by even the Christmas child’s earthly father. Joseph was considering to divorce Mary due to her seeming unfaithfulness until an angel appeared to him and said:

Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

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”).  (Matthew 1:20-22)

The Old Testament prophecy of the mother of the Savior fulfilled and quoted in the New Testament. For us, in 2017, the message is clear. What God says comes true even through miraculous means. The God of the Bible can be trusted. His promises never fail.

Come back to explore another of the wonderful prophecies of the birth of our Savior. I will wait you.

One of my favorite Christmas songs about the virgin Mary and her baby boy.