Immanuel

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

Matthew 1:23*

Getting three wishes granted is the stuff fairy tales are made of. However, in the real world, only two men since time began were given the opportunity to have anything they wanted and they had only one chance to get it right.

Solomon was the first and he requested wisdom. This choice so pleased God that the king also received power, long life, and fabulous wealth. The second didn’t expect much from God so He turned down the offer all together.

The year was 753 B.C. and the political situation in Jerusalem was desperate. The armies of Syria and Northern Israel had just made an alliance to invade and conquer Judah. Just as there seemed no way out of a bad situation, God sent Isaiah to the unbelieving King Ahaz with very good news. The threatened attack would never take place. In fact, the powerful Northern enemy would itself cease to exist in 65 years. To show the certainty of deliverance, Isaiah told the King that the Lord would do any miracle he desired (Isaiah 7:1-14).

“No don’t bother, I won’t ask,” was Ahaz’s response.

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign,” the prophet declared, “Immanuel will come.”

It was the greatest thing that anyone could ever wish for. Immanuel means, “God with us” and that meant the distance between man and his Creator would be gone forever. Born of a virgin, the God-man would be totally unique and would come bringing deliverance for all people.

The sad thing was that Ahaz lost in every way. He never got his heart’s desire and he never saw God’s promise. Because of spiritual apathy, even people today pass up life’s most wonderful opportunity. They miss knowing Immanuel and the deliverance from destruction He offers.

*See also Isaiah 7:14, 8:8