This is a verse we often hear around Christmas time. We usually focus on the latter half of this verse and speak of Immanuel—“God with us”. But let’s explore the first half of Isaiah 7:14—“the Lord himself” and find another place in Scripture where God and “himself” are closely associated.
Back in the Old Testament, Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice His own son Isaac as a test of Abraham’s faith in Him. Abraham obeyed.
While things were getting prepared, unknowing his father’s intention, Isaac saw the wood, he saw the fire, but saw something missing. He asked his father, “Where’s the lamb?”
Abraham replied, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8 ASV)
These were prophetic words.
Seeing his faith, God held Abraham back from sacrificing Isaac. Instead God provided a ram, caught by its horns in the thicket, to sacrifice.
Seeing us, our sinful state, our hopeless-on-our-own selves, God had a plan. He would provide Himself to save us. He. Himself. Jesus. Eventually caught in the thicket of a crown of thorns. Immanuel. God with us.
What does this mean to you? How does our belief in God sending Himself distinguish itself from all other faiths in the world? What good news do you find in “God will provide Himself the Lamb”? How may you share why Christmas is so merry to those who do not yet know Jesus?
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