The first prophetic mention of a ‘seed’ in the form of a child who would be redeemer for mankind is in the third chapter of Genesis. The event sets the stage for the woman (Eve) who will bear the promised child and the serpent who will be the enemy of the promised child. The scripture in Genesis does not give any indication of a timetable when the child will be conceived. More than likely Eve thought it would be in her lifetime. At least, that’s what I would have thought.
In Genesis 3:15 (NKJV) we read:
“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
The prophet Isaiah foretold that a child who was sent by God would come. This was the seed, the child born of a woman. In Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) he prophesied, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Immanuel in Hebrew means “God with us” and is pronounced ‘Amanuel’. The sign refers to a redeemer that God would send to Israel. The prophet Isaiah lived about 700 years before Jesus was born.
In Matthew 1 we learn that while Joseph was betrothed Mary they had not consummated their union when he found out she was expecting a child. Matthew 1:18-21 (NKJV) reveals, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
While Joseph was planning to send Mary away secretly so as not to shame her, an Angel appeared to him and told him the child Mary was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Say what?
We need to put that into context. That had never been done before. No woman before or since conceived by God planting a seed in them. I don’t know about you, but all things considered, I think Joseph took the news pretty well.
So, here’s the thing I know...I know what commitment and broken commitment feels like. It’s the deepest sort of hurt I’ve experienced. That’s what Joseph was feeling. He would have felt like he’d been betrayed. He would have thought that Mary was keeping a big secret from him. He would have wondered who she had been with and when she would have been with him. I think as Joseph passed other men in Bethlehem he would have wondered, ‘Is he the one who took my betrothed?’
From the account in Matthew we know that Joseph learned that God is the ‘ultimate faithful’ one.
God was faithful to the promise He made in Genesis 3:15. It was who God kept His promise to every prophet when He whispered to them that ONE was coming. God was faithful to Isaiah when He specifically told Him the ONE coming would be sent to a virgin and His name would be Immanuel. God was faithful to Joseph when He helped him understand HOW Mary conceived a child. God was faithful to Mary as she carried that child.
All throughout scripture God has been faithful. In my life God has been faithful. When we are betrayed, we can turn to God because He is faithful.
God is WITH us.
Immanuel.
IN us.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: God WITH Us
Spend time throughout your day repeating the phrase, God is WITH me. Speak it over and over again.
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