What an earth shaking statement from God’s prophet to Israel. For centuries, the long awaited Messiah had been expected but the details of how this would occur were only partially known. Since the beginning of human history, in the Garden, the pre-incarnate Christ had announced --
…“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."(Gen 3:15 NIV)
Prophets and kings had spoken of the coming of a Deliverer, a Messiah, who would remove the enmity between God and man that was a result of Adam’s sin. This same Deliverer would establish a reign of righteousness and justice over the entire earth. Now Isaiah’s announcements would reveal some specifics that surely heightened the anticipation and faith of those who trusted in the God of Israel. This Messiah would be God in the flesh, the union of God and man into one person forever. The humanity of the Messiah, the Christ, was found in the words --
… “a child is born.”(Isa 9:6)
The prophet expanded this earlier in his writings by stating that this would occur through a unique pregnancy and birth, one that would be solely “the seed of the woman,” with out male involvement. He wrote --
… “a virgin shall conceive a bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.”(Isa 7:14)
Nothing like this had ever occurred in history. It was a pronouncement that was unique, a one of a kind happening. Moses knew of this unique Lord and stated --
… “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God; the Lord is one (unique).”(Deut 6:4)
That which was promised in the Garden and foretold by Moses, was now being affirmed by Isaiah to the nation Israel. “Immanuel,” God would be with us, the God-Man. Such a revelation must have shaken the very pillars of heaven itself as the angelic realm learned of the Father’s Plan to bring salvation to mankind. The “child,” speaking of his humanity, would be born, and the “Son,” speaking of His Deity, would be given. At the right time in history, God’s wonderful gift to mankind would enter the human race that He might reconcile man back to God. The Apostle Paul carried forth Isaiah’s message in his letter to the Philippians. The Savior, the Messiah of Israel would enter the human race, not clinging to His rights and privileges as the second member of the Trinity, but rather, He would submit to the Father’s will and Plan and be obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Sadly, the skeptic denies such an intervention into human affairs by Deity, but history, (His Story) attests to the contrary. As man, this Jesus, the Savior, could go to the Cross and bear our sins. At the same moment, as God, He was sustaining the universe and giving breath to those who mocked him. The hymn writer, Philip P. Bliss, wrote, “Hallelujah, what a Savior!” May the Truth of the “child born” and the “Son given” bring much happiness to us as we celebrate God’s wondrous gift of the Savior. May the anticipation of His future reign in righteousness and justice bring tidings of great joy and peace to all who trust in this Jesus, who is called the Christ.