IMMANUEL... “With us—Is God!”
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
In one of the most dynamic of all examples of dual or layered prophetic fulfillment, we, at this point of history, can see Isaiah’s prophecy with both a near and a distant fulfillment. It was fulfilled literally (near—present time of Isaiah) in the days of Ahaz and it was fulfilled literally (distant—far in the future from the time of Isaiah) in the person of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel, which translated means, “With us—Is God.”
“Now all this took place…” What took place? (Let’s back up a few verses.)
Matthew 1:18-21 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Joseph was told to not be afraid. Just like Ahaz (see Isaiah 7), Joseph had considered taking the wrong way out of his problem. And just like Ahaz, Joseph was commanded to stop fearing.
Why? Because God would be with him—his trust needed to be in God. He needed to stop looking at the problem and look at his God instead.
IMMANUEL... “With us—Is God!”
Jesus was God. God came in the form and flesh of Jesus and dwelt among men (they shall call His Name Immanuel). This part of Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled over 2,000 years ago when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Mary was a virgin (Joseph and Mary had not been together.) Mary became pregnant with Jesus (be with child). Jesus was born (bear). Jesus was a boy (Son).
Although much of Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled, it is not yet completely complete. What is left? Immanuel! With us—Is God!
Christ has come and is spiritually with the Church. He will call us to be with Him soon and we will be with Him forever in person. The church may shout, “Immanuel! With us—Is God!”
When the Promised One, Israel’s Messiah came, the nation of Israel rejected the time of its visitation and has consequently been “put on the back burner” spiritually, so to speak. But God is not finished with Israel. Israel’s Messiah will come again and God will be Israel’s God and Israel will be His people for all of eternity.
Praise the Lord of hosts! He will come again and He will be with His people, the nation of Israel! He promised them deliverance and salvation and He will see to it Himself! He will be with them for all of eternity! Israel will soon shout, “Immanuel! With us—Is God!”
God made a remarkable promise in Isaiah’s day… one for the far distant future… the final fulfillment might not be very far away… not very far at all…
