All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him…
Matthew 1:22-24 ESV
All this took place to fulfill what was spoken more than 700 years earlier… by the prophet Isaiah…
Sometimes we forget the expanse of centuries the Bible covers… having it all bound neatly in one book…
We might think everyone within the pages… is thoroughly familiar with all the events within…
The many prophetic quotes sprinkled throughout the New Testament surely meant people knew what was going on… clearly saw how all these things fit together…
But No… that’s not the case…
Centuries had passed since Isaiah prophesied what was being fulfilled in Joseph’s life…
It is at this moment… Matthew interjects what cannot be seen without revelation… All these things took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet…
Old Testament prophecies are scattered throughout the New because it had been so long… in some cases more than 1000 years… since the word was spoken…
We need to be reminded… to see what God is up to…
Joseph was awakened to the personal impact of centuries old prophecy on his current life…
If we are to wait for the King well in our current Advent… we too need to be awakened to God’s words of old…
He has not forgotten what He said just because it’s been centuries… all His promises will come to pass…
But unless we’re awake to the importance of His Word… all of it… we may miss what He’s up to in our everyday lives…
Awake to His Word… both Old Testament and New…
Ask for revelation… for eyes to see…
Without understanding and familiarity of His Word… we can’t see Him in our lives… or the significance of what was said thousands of years ago…
His Word is timeless… always reliable… always relevant…
Awake to His Word…
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:1-3-105 ESV
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