Christmas… It's the most wonderful time of the year!

In Hallmark’s Christmas movies there is always much eager anticipation as people countdown on their picture-perfect handcrafted advent calendars to the day when Jesus' birth is celebrated.  Do you have your own traditions for counting down to this wonderful day on our calendar? Do you remember what it was like as a child, when Christmas seemed so far away?

The Old Testament people could empathise with such impatient children. They had been told that a Saviour and Redeemer was coming. They'd listened to the prophecies and knew that one day they would be fulfilled… yet, like many things in our lives, the wait was long and sometimes people lost heart, lost hope and some even lost their faith.  True to the character of Christ though, His PRESENCE and promise of REDEMPTION never changed.  In spite of man’s fallibility, the Deliverer remained faithful to His people and His purpose (of restoring relationship with those who’d been separated from God).  As a tiny babe came forth and was laid in a manger that momentous day in Bethlehem (Luke 2:7), long-before received prophecies found their fulfilment:

'Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: 

Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, 

and she will call His name Immanuel (God with us)' 

(Isaiah 7:15 AMP).

All this happened in order to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet [Isaiah]: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and give birth to a Son, 

and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which, when translated, means, “God with us.” 

(Matthew 1:22, 23 AMP)

In the midst of the ‘crazy season’ that our society tends to create around Christmas, it can be easy to get busy and make the ‘reason for the season’ a little secondary in our lives.  The preparations for Christmas gatherings and events can become somewhat consuming and while we might give a ‘nod to baby Jesus’, perhaps we don’t always give our attention to where it should be.  I’m guilty of it.  I would guess that at times we all might be.  This year, I want to be much more intentional with bringing my focus upon Christ each day and remembering who He is as Immanuel, God with us.  I’m so thankful that we, as Tirzah girls/women, are doing this together - opening up scripture, stilling our hearts and focusing our eyes upon our Saviour.

When I read the verse above, from Isaiah, it was with complete delight - ah, ‘Immanuel: God with us’, some of my favourite words in the Bible.  Words of comfort, love, reassurance, grace and dependability.  These words are indeed beautiful!  They, on their own, are like a sneak peak, or a preview, of the bigger picture being described in the surrounding verses in Chapter 7.  Here we read of King Ahaz, his life, his response to God and the consequences of this; but moreover of God, his nature, grace and love.  

King Ahaz was raised in a God-honouring home.  He came from a long-line of kings and he himself gained this title at an early age.  Upon taking up the reign of the kingdom however, Ahaz departed from his faith (worshipping idols, sacrificing his children, and ruining the temple).  He received instruction from the Lord, yet chose to continue to walk in disobedience and self-reliance (See Isaiah 7:10, 11).  The prophecy in Chapter 7 tells of the dire consequences of this sin, yet also of the hope of the coming Redeemer (Have a listen to the final chorus in Silent Night which speaks to this).  

The root of Ahaz’s sinfulness was exposed in Isaiah’s prophetic words.  He was full of pride - the desire to make oneself great - to be KING, rather than submitting to THE King.  The utterings the Holy Spirit gave to Isaiah, to deliver to King Ahaz, demonstrated that the Lord’s ways are higher than our own and that He is the All-Powerful God and Supreme Ruler, not us.  How did the prophecy reveal this?  Read on…  

‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign’

King Ahaz was accustomed to being the one who’d give signs - it was at his word that soldiers could be sent to war, holidays instituted and new laws decreed.  He didn’t take orders from anyone, not even God. Humility certainly wasn’t his middle name.  He didn’t understand the truth found in Matthew 20:16, that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  When Jesus was sent to earth as a baby, He modelled this principle.  

God doesn’t desire us to puff ourselves up and think ourselves better than Him or others.  Instead, He calls us to a life of submission unto Him and servanthood towards others.   

‘Listen carefully,’

We are prone to speak before we listen, and to only listen when it ‘tickles our ears’.  That’s not God’s intention for us.  To live a life where we experience His protection and blessing, we need to actively listen to his instruction and rebuke.  Following his directions to us will help us to stay on the path which is best suited for us, as He will direct our paths.  On the contrary, if we choose to think ourselves as more knowledgeable than God, just as King Ahaz did, we’ll find ourselves stumbling and falling.  “Pride comes before a fall” (See Proverbs 16:18-20). 

‘the virgin will conceive’

Jesus was conceived by a virgin to show that man cannot ever achieve the purposes of God on their own.  Mary could never have ‘hatched a plan’ to bring Jesus into the world herself.  The Holy Spirit had to come upon her in order for her to become pregnant with the Son of God.  King Ahaz was being reminded that without God he could achieve nothing of any lasting significance.  While he may gain success in this life, his eternity would be devoid of anything good if He didn’t choose to allow God to be the author of his story.  Similarly, King Ahaz was prompted to recognise that anything of value comes with a price, yet ultimately it’s worth the cost.  Mary, a virgin, would have experienced ridicule and many wouldn’t have believed her story when she told of how the angel had visited her and told her that she’d become Jesus’ mother.  Moreover, she knew that Joseph could easily have divorced her (or worse - she might even have been killed).  A challenging path to walk.  Imagine though, also, the immense joy of the close relationship she was able to have with Christ.  It’s hard to fathom, but I am sure she’d have been humbled to have watched him grow and learn and then to learn from Him (The song, ‘Mary Did You Know?’ is a beautiful reflection around this).

‘and give birth to a son,’

If we, humans, were to send the Saviour to earth, we’d send Him as a majestic and powerful King.  God’s plan… I’ll send him as an infant - helpless and reliant upon others to have his every need met.  God desired that Jesus experience every bit of humanity as we do, so that He could entirely relate to Him and be an example to us of how to live.  Every tough situation that Jesus encountered throughout His human life on earth, he sought God for provision, comfort and strength.  Where did he learn this?  In His mother’s arms.  She would have seen to it that He was in the temple to learn the Word of God, so that when he faced temptation, he could say, “It is written…” in order to defeat the enemy.  Jesus’ coming into the world as a baby gave us a framework of how we too should rely entirely on the Lord and the truth found in His Word.  

‘and she will call His name Immanuel (God with us)’’ 

Every time I hear the name, Immanuel, it takes my breath away.  It is a name which resounds the magnificence of our Lord and His immense love for us.  King Ahaz was known for building idols and altars - human attempts to experience the presence of a greater being.  Faulty at best.  Entirely useless.  Utterly disappointing and sad.  The One True God is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:23-24 and Matthew 28:20).  That is something unspeakably wonderful.  

At the moment, I am holidaying in Western Australia with my brother and his family.  I live on the opposite side of the country to them and it is rare that we see each other face-to-face.  There’s nothing like being present with those we love.  Being able to share a warm embrace is so special.  Walking, talking and laughing together.  Sharing knowing looks and smiles.  Physical presence is vital for strong and deep relationships to flourish.  God knew this… after all, He is the Creator who designed us to have an intimate relationship with Him, just as Adam and Eve did when they walked in the cool of the evening with Him in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8 - A side note: This verse speaks of God walking with them AFTER the Fall - what an insight into His mercy and His desire for us to be restored unto Him after we’ve fallen short through our sin).  

The prophetic word Isaiah brought to King Ahaz was profound - the One who is coming will be present with those who follow Him, every day, everywhere and in every situation, and that is all any of us need: Immanuel: The Greatest Gift of All Time.  

His presence will…

• ease your fears, making you brave and strong (Deuteronomy 31:6-8 and Joshua 1:5, 9),

• bring comfort, protection and strength when you encounter dark and difficult times (Psalm 23:4 and 46:1),

• brings provision, satisfaction, rest, peace and victory (Hebrews 13:5, Ex 33:14),

• allow you to encounter His love as He sings over us with joy (Zephaniah 3:17) and

• save you (Isaiah 41:10).

It’s interesting to note that while King Ahaz refused to accept the gift God offered, this didn’t diminish or destroy the grace of God towards His family.  His son, King Hezekiah, trusted in God and walked faithfully (2 Kings 18:5-6, 2 Chronicles 31:20).  A powerful reminder, that while the decisions and sins of one generation can impact another, they cannot separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).  

***

The Christmas narrative, a fulfilment of the prophecy given to Ahaz, finds its completion in Revelations 21:3, a final promise in the New Testament that Immanuel will be with us.  It reads, 

‘And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 

“Now God’s presence is with people, and he will live with them, and they will be his people. 

God himself will be with them and will be their God”.’ (NCV)

***

This Advent season, join with me in reflecting on the fulfilment of the prophecy to King Ahaz and what it means to each of us personally.  A few questions to prompt your pondering or perhaps to use as a journaling exercise:

• What signs has the Lord given to me, demonstrating His love, power, sovereignty and graciousness?

• How might I be His ‘hands and feet’ this season to share His love with others?

• As I quiet the noise of the busy season, what is God saying to me?

• What mission does God have for me - a lowly person, like Mary?

• What areas in my life have been nothing short of miraculous - achievements made through His power in my life and not my own strength?  Can I share some of these moments to encourage another?

• Is the Lord trying to ‘conceive’ something in me right now?  Will I submit to His plan, embrace the ‘risk’ and become excited for what He will bring about for His Kingdom?

• In what ways do I know that God is present with me each day in this season?  How have I felt His presence in different times throughout my life?