Scriptures and Signs

     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.
                                                (Isaiah 7:14 NASB)

Do you believe in signs? When your path is unclear and you just can’t see a way through, where do you turn for direction, advice, counsel, and comfort?

During the time of the prophet Isaiah, God’s people were experiencing war and unrest. The Lord sent Isaiah to speak truth to his people, telling them that although harder times were ahead, God had not forgotten them and one day would send One who would make all things right again. That prophetic promise would be fulfilled through an unsuspecting couple:

     This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When
     Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were
     married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph
     her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t
     want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement
     quietly. As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord
     appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David,
     don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child
     she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give
     birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save
     his people from their sins.” Now all of this took place so that
     what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:

          Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son,

               And they will call him, Emmanuel.

               (Emmanuel means “God with us.”)

     When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God
     commanded and took Mary as his wife.
                                                           (Matthew 1:18-24 CEB)

The angel who appeared to Joseph spoke the words that the prophet Isaiah had written long ago: “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”  (Isaiah 7:14 NASB)

Were Mary and Joseph familiar with Isaiah’s prophecy? Had they heard those words their whole lives? Were they elated or terrified to play a part in this promise coming true? Was the mention of Immanuel, God with us, enough to quiet their doubts and assure them that what was happening was from God? Were they comforted by the words of the ancient prophecy during what had to be a mysterious and stressful time in their lives?

Though we have not received angelic proclamations as Mary and Joseph did, we too, have access to the promises of God in the Word; and we are blessed to know that God’s ultimate promise has been fulfilled in Jesus–Immanuel, God with us. We also have the Holy Spirit–the perfect Counselor and Coach–to guide and comfort us through whatever life may bring our way.

With the Word of God at our fingertips and the Holy Spirit living within us, speaking words of life to our hearts and minds, we do not need to search for visible signs in order to follow God–although signs of God’s presence and activity are all around us. What a gift it is to know that we have everything we need to hear and follow God!

Prayer Focus:
Ask the Lord to clear your mind of distractions and obstacles so that you can hear God’s voice. Thank God for the gifts of the Word and the Holy Spirit, which guide and comfort you.


From Rob Renfroe and Ed Robb, “The Wonder of Christmas: Devotions for the Season”