Remember Immanuel Always!
Rev. Enoch Thompson | December 10 2024 | Isaiah 8:9-10
KEY VERSE:
Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us. Isaiah 8:10 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
It is important for us to anticipate Christmas by keeping the idea of “God with us” before our eyes and letting that conviction guide us not only at Christmas but throughout our lifetime.
Yesterday, we saw how the presence of God would make a difference between outrightly unfaithful Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom) in the face of the anticipated Assyrian attack. Israel would be defeated and dispersed because God had departed their sinful company, but Judah (the Southern Kingdom) would be delivered from the Assyrian attack why because of “Immanuel.”
The Spirit of God stirs the spirit of Isaiah in the next verses (Isaiah 8:9-10) to proclaim the relevance of “Immanuel” not only in relation to the Assyrian invasion but to all other invasions present and future. The schemes of those who team up and strategise against those who have God with them will fail and be scattered. The repetition in verse 9 is for emphasis. The reason for the failure of the enemies of Judah is given in verse 10, “Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, (WHY?), for God is with us.”!!
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
My dear friend, do you see the essence of having God with you? You may or may not be aware of the battles that rage around you, but you will do well to have an Immanuel Insurance!
PRAYER:
Oh God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Great I Am who chooses to be with those who trust in you, I pray that I will know Immanuel, now and always. Please help me share the good news that God has come to be with us for this life and beyond. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: STRATEGY The word "strategy" in Isaiah 8:10 is rooted in the Hebrew term ‘etzah (עֵצָה), which means "counsel," "plan," or "advice." It implies deliberate plotting or forming plans, often with a sense of intentionality or strategy In Isaiah 8:10, the phrase “Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted” speaks to the futility of human plans when God is present with His people. The enemies’ strategies are rendered ineffective because God’s presence ensures that His people are protected and guided according to His divine will. The word also shows the limitations of human wisdom and the power of divine intervention. It underscores that when God is with us, His guidance transcends human plans and wisdom, securing victory against all opposition. This reflects the truth that in Christ, our strategies are not reliant on human strength but on the presence and power of God. Reflection: Our plans may falter, but God’s purpose is unstoppable. Let His presence guide your steps today.
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