Isaiah 7:14 KJV
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This morning I backtracking a little over Isaiah 7. Verse fourteen though it is not mention in yesterday lesson the meaning of Immanuel nor was the name Immanuel even mentioned. In fact perhaps to prove a point of sorts was the reason why and yet to leave the meaning out takes away from something God is doing. Isaiah is prophesying before King Ahaz and he not only tells the ensign for Israel that Lord had decreed what was happening he was also declaring something even more to the people that their time of punishment, time of exile, time of abandonment from God was temporary for a greater purpose. Their suffering and loss for a purpose. Most of us would not appreciate the idea of lossness of the way we live, eat, work and so forth. I remember 20 years ago I was very very sick and my husband got injured on the job. It was like the worse possible moment of our life was being unravel to the point we knew not where our next meal, or next gas to run the vehicle and so forth was coming from. Though my exile was in my home, it was a type of exile from the world around me. Though not as devastating as the last major tornado or hurricane in our nation, rest assured it was a major storm in my life. Yet God's provision is awesome. If God be with you in the storm then who is truly against you. Only those who want to form a confederacy against God will find they can not win. Today's passage in the Continual Scripture Study at the bottom of the page has to deal with the fact God was taking Israel from their land and the promise of God were still invoke in Israel despite the exile was going to take place. Isaiah would have son with a special name. And it was sign to Isaiah that God was with him, though his name was not Immanuel. Immanuel being a name that would be spoken from generation to generation of those who walked in the will of God knowing God was with them and for them. Immanuel meaning God with us, but also the name of the Messiah to come, by the virgin birth. Immanuel being directed toward Israel because a remnant was forming and breath life into the exile and out of the exile. A people that chose not the way of witchcrafts and sorcery, but followed God and Isaiah was leading those he was in contact with and could spread the word to others. Are we in hindsight to the will of God for Assyria to cause destruction to Israel.

In fact we probably living in hindsight of the destruction of Israel and the will of Israel in the land of Israel even today, meaning hindsight of even current events not fully understanding the will and ways of God. Our very thinking and understanding is lacking because of the narrowness of our surrounding, and yet it sees the panaramic view of prophecy being foretold and happening to Isaiah. A son meant several things that Isaiah tree was not cut off and was prosperous. Having a son meant that what God had said would come to pass by his will. It time ot pack your suitcase if you know you are leaving into exile. It time to prepare for what you can take with you for the journey. The promise of difficulty was not lost. Isaiah was to sanctify the Lord, the word magnified is more understood, because God is already sanctified and holy. To declare God's holiness despite what was going to happen. They were to understand for the believer God had not left them, for the unbeliever God was no longer presence in their life, God turned away from aiding those that were not his children. His focus on the remnant of Israel.

Though all this information is good, it lacks one thing the understanding the prophecy of Immanuel/Emmanuel God with us was also speaking of after the storm of Israel God would send Emmanuel to the people of Israel as a sign of God with us. To get to the time of prosperity and hope for a nation, destruction must come and it was the will of God for his word to be spread even among the heathens of the land. A type of introduction that would continue into the land of Israel at the time of Christ. The temple being important, the coming of the Messiah not understood, and the time of Israel prosperity because God was with them along with past will of destruction.

When our hopes and dreams are broken by the will of God, God is sending a new hope into our hearts of the spiritual kind. We must be willing to receive God grace in prosperity and devastation/destruction. For many of us it a hard pill to swallow the will of God in our life and even our own nation. We might be people of faith and our nation laid wasted because of storms, economic collaspe or even war. Yet people survive to speak another day never realizing the will of God before the storm and as the storm comes in. God allowing his enemy to overflow the banks of our home, our neighbors and the areas around us, only to prove when God says, I return and restoring my people he is able to do just that with the enemy helping the people to rebuild their lives.

Christ coming was and is the hope to the world despite what may befall the world before and during the time of Christ coming. During the time of God's wrath many believe the saints will not be on the earth. I in line to agree, but there is time when the saints of God will be facing some of the destruction period before the final judgment and even walk through fire, and never be bit by scorpions as their fellow man of unbelief is in tornment. There are things we will see about the judgment that we will not want to witness but will for a period of time. Do you think it was easy for Moses and the Hebrew people to watch the judgment befall Pharaoh. remember more then Israel left Egypt going toward the promise land.

Today let us focus on Christmas the memory of our Savior's birth, knowing God is with us still and his word is still with us as well. That no matter our situation today there will be a time of restoration in our life whether in heaven or earth if we only believe in God(Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Why all three, without the Father is there a Son, yes, without the Holy Spirit is their a Father, the answer is no, for the Holy Spirit of God hovered over the earth. Over Mary as the word of God came upon her to perform the word to conception of her son, not by natural means but by his Spirit and word.

Let us not leave out faith in any part of the Godhead. Though some of us only believe in part until we understand the three are one. That okay, for God said to believe in his Son and you would be saved. Obeying his word and his truth for our salvation. Just as Israel faced destruction God's will was to restore his people to him and make them prosperous one day, being purged them from their past sin and evil ways. God will not leave you, nor did he forsake you, you might not be active in faith, but God is still God in the darkest of days. God is still God in your hour of need. Reach up and reach out to Christ Emmanuel for he is with us still, but how can he be with us in our unbelief. The eyes of unbelief blind those to the truth of God being everywhere.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for being God with us(Immanuel/Emmanuel). As we press on into Christmas help us remember no matter the place we are in our life you are still with us and ever present even in the hours of destruction. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Isaiah 8:1-13 KJV
1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
5 The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,
6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.