Immanuel — God with Us: Immanuel Announced

Before we dig in here, I just have to wonder. What must have it been like to be Isaiah? Really, any of the prophets, for that matter. NOT an upbeat occupation, for sure. God's prophets always swam against the tide. They were hated for telling the truth, because lies were so much more palatable and convenient to the people and because people are by nature rebellious, weak, and easily deceived.

Isaiah, for example, as one of his prophetic assignments, was instructed by the LORD to remove his sackcloth and walk around naked and barefoot for three years, as a sign of the humiliation the LORD would bring upon Egypt and Cush (Is 20:2-3).

He was commanded to name his two children certain names so that every time he spoke them he would be prophesying judgement, warning, and hope mingled with devastation:

Isaiah 7:3 — Shear-jashub (“A remnant shall return”)

Isaiah 8:1–4 — Maher-shalal-hash-baz (“Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey”)

In fact, immediately following his very remarkable calling, as recorded in Isaiah chapter 6, where he is literally transported to the throne of God and God touches his lips with coal, he is told that no matter what he says, the people will not listen.

Isaiah died a martyrs death, from what we can gather. Scripture itself does not record Isaiah’s death, but strong Jewish and early Christian tradition holds that:

• Isaiah was martyred during the reign of King Manasseh

• He was reportedly sawn in two

This tradition is ancient and widely accepted, and it is very likely alluded to in

Hebrews 11:37 —that great chapter on the heroes of the faith — “They were stoned, they were sawn in two…” While Isaiah is not named, early Jewish writings (such as the Ascension of Isaiah) consistently identify him as one of those martyrs.

God called and enlisted Isaiah for a very difficult and unpleasant mission that would ultimately fail (its very failure being the primary prophetic point!) and lead to a gruesome and ignoble death.

Yet, as I type these words I am smiling at the very thought of Isaiah, because HE is in that great cloud of witnesses right this very moment, full of joy and not regretting for one minute (though minutes don't exist where he is!) his difficult life as a prophet of The Most High God. As the apostle Paul penned in one of my very favorite passages of the entire Bible,

"Therefore, we faint not, for though

our outward man perish,

yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction,

which is but for a moment,

worketh for us a far more exceeding

and eternal weight of glory;

while we look not at the things which are seen,

but at the things which are not seen.

For the things which are seen are temporal,

but the things which are not seen are eternal."

2 Cor 4:16-18

And, as far as the "great cloud of witnesses" go, are you aware that as we as believing disciples run our race down here below - right now! - we are actually being observed and cheered on by Isaiah and everyone else who has gone before? Yes! I am not making it up: That's what the scriptures say!

Immediately following Hebrews 11 - the heroes of the faith chapter, where Isaiah being sewn in two is alluded to among many other stirring stories - we read this in the very next chapter!

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud

of witnesses surrounding us,

let us also lay aside every weight

and the sin which so easily besets us,

and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,

who - for the joy that was set before Him -

endured the cross, despising the shame,

and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility

of sinners against Himself,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:1-3

And yet, in spite of all, it is from Isaiah's pen that we read some of the most comforting words in the Bible!

Just think about it! In spite of the difficult role God had given Him, Isaiah lived in complete trust in God; he waited on the LORD to renew his strength. Rather than becoming discouraged with the dullness and murderous hostility of the people to whom he was sent, he mounted up with wings like eagles do; he did not become weary for all his running, and when he walked (even naked) he didn't faint!

Facing death by the sword? God was with him, keeping him in perfect peace because his mind was stayed on God.

Let this, alone, serve as a powerful reminder to us of God's faithfulness no matter what. "Faithful is He who has called us who also will perform it"(I Thess 5:24). If Isaiah was kept in perfect peace - think about it! - PERFECT PEACE - we can be too, as long as we meet the criteria - keeping our minds stayed on Him because we trust in Him. While I can't directly speak for God, the counsel of all of Scripture leans towards there being not much that pleases Him more than our unwavering trust in Him. This is why He continually tests us. The more He tests, the more we experience His faithfulness, and the more we experience His faithfulness, the more we trust, and this gives HIM joy!

Okay! Back to IMMANUEL

Isaiah is the prophet who makes this first mention of Immanuel:

"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

Isaiah had no idea what the LORD was saying through him here! It wasn't as though God gave him a vision of the future of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus. Well, at least I don't think so! 🤨 I mean, after all, I wasn't there, but Isaiah was in the midst of talking about something close at hand. In Scripture, it is not uncommon for a prophecy to have what is often called a double fulfillment.

In Isaiah’s day, God was speaking into a real and immediate situation—a moment of fear and uncertainty for Judah. The promise that “God is with us” reassured His people that He had not abandoned them in their present circumstances.

But! At the same time, God was doing something far greater. (How does He do that?) You would literally have to be God to do this; weave everything together over eons and work it all out perfectly every step of the way until its ultimate completion. This is the reason He cuts us no slack if we don't believe. No excuse!

Anyway, through Isaiah, He was also pointing forward—far beyond that moment—to the coming of the Messiah. What was true in principle in Isaiah’s day would be fulfilled in its fullest, most literal sense centuries later, when God Himself would come and dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ.

In other words:

• God was with them then

• but God would be with us in an entirely new and astonishing way

Remember, the entire salvation of all people from all time rested completely on the fulfillment of this short prophetic utterance, delivered 700 years before it would take place!

And - fast forward - when that time came, Matthew - one of Jesus' disciples- makes it all clear when he applies Isaiah’s words directly to the birth of Jesus, translating the name Immanuel for us. In the words of Matthew:

“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.” 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, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.” - Matthew 1:18-25

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Wow! Just think of it. It is the year 2025. Here we are sitting on the other side of it than was Isaiah, or even Matthew.

This has all been done.

It is FINISHED.

We simply believe,* and God is with us.

Tomorrow, we're going to explore the amazing mystery that opens the gospel of John - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God - leading to - "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: 'God with us.' — John F. MacArthur 

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Chris Tomlin - Emmanuel God With Us (Live)

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*Interested in knowing how to enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Say a Salvation Prayer and Receive Jesus Christ Today.

Of course, the saying of a prayer is the reflection of a monumental and life-changing heart decision, but this is a good guide.