+DEV+ Message of Strength

Date: April 22, 2012 10:03 PM
Topic: +DEV+  Message of Strength

Message of Strength

"The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."  (Isaiah 7:14)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 18;  Matthew 1:22-23

Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, God gave a glimpse of this event to His prophet Isaiah. His message was this: the Messiah will be a son, born to a virgin, and His name will be Immanuel.

Unlike today, names in Bible times told a story or made a statement. Names were usually combinations of words that created an intended picture, and Immanuel was no different. Im is the Hebrew word meaning "with" or "beside," while the word el means "God." Immanuel is "God with us." But the word picture of el is something with mighty strength - like a strong, supporting pillar or an oak tree. In fact, the root of this word actually means "twisted" - like a twisted tree trunk. That implies unbreakable, mighty strength.

When we feel weak emotionally or spiritually, we need to look at Jesus and remember He came to show us that God is our mighty strength. Though just a helpless baby as He entered our world, He contained all the power in the universe as God. We can trust Him to carry us.

Insight: Jesus - the baby's name means "the Lord saves." to save someone implies strength. to save humankind implies the mighty strength of God.