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The Biblical text reveals several prophecies on the birth and journey of the Jewish Messiah within the span of human history. Here are just a few that are relevant to this Advent Season. Micah's 725 B.C. Prophecy (Micah 5: 2) But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.

His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (c.f., Matt 2: 6). Micah 5: 2 makes a couple of predictions. First, the birthplace of this future “ruler of Israel” would be Bethlehem Ephrathah. With two locations known as Bethlehem at the time of Micah’s writing, the addition of Ephrathah specifies the Bethlehem in Judah.

Bethlehem was considered “little” or insignificant, among the cities of Judah, yet would serve as the birthplace of this future ruler. Second, the coming ruler of Jewish background was one “whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days.” The Messiah is the only one who fits the description of a ruler in Israel whose origin was from times past.

In fact, “from ancient days” is sometimes synonymous with “eternal.” This interpretation is strengthened by the fact that the Jewish religious leaders in the first century identified Micah 5:2 as a Messianic prophecy. In Matthew 2, wise men from the East visited King Herod in Jerusalem and asked where the king of the Jews had been born.

Herod assembled all the chief priests and scribes, and “he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea,’” basing their answer on Micah 5:2. Isaiah's 700 B.C. Prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el. This humanly inexplicable prophecy must have caused quite a stir during Isaiah's life time. Nevertheless, Scripture does inform us that nothing is impossible for God (Gen 18:14).

The given name of the male child (viz., with-us God or God with us) further mystifies the issue. Is it possible that Yahweh can descend in human form? The idea of a virgin giving birth is so shocking to the Jewish psyche that they would understandably balk at the idea that it could mean what it says.

Even the Jewish Sage Rabbi Moshe haDarshan wrote in the Madras Genesis Rabbah: “The redeemer whom I shall raise up from among you will have no father, as it is written, ‘Behold the man whose name is Zemach [branch], and he shall branch up out of his place’; and he also says, ‘For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground.’” The same idea can also be found in Midrash Genesis Rabbah 37: “The Holy One said to Israel, you have spoken before me, saying, we are orphans and have no father.

The redeemer whom I shall raise up out of your midst will have no father also, as it is said, ‘Behold the man whose name is the Branch, and he shall branch up out of his place.” The Sages attest to the Messiah as having no biological father, and furthermore, connect him to Isaiah 53.

But God’s intention to come and live among us is transcribed all throughout Scripture; implying that He has thought this through and definitively planned His visit to Palestine. Isaiah’s 700 B.C. Prophecy (Isaiah 9: 6 – 7) For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace. In those dark days, during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham and Ahaz, amidst Yahweh’s impending judgment on Judah, Israel, and Assyria, what Isaiah saw with such clarity of the coming Jewish Messiah, was astounding!

Such heavenly descriptive designations filled a void in the Jewish psyche, but their expectations did not endear them to their Saviour when He came. What do these characterizations mean for us? As a Wonderful Counsellor, His guidance is wise, and His wisdom is remarkably and differently focused from that of our world.

As Mighty God, His divinely derived strength empowers us in living a life that pleases Him, and He is utterly prevalent over His enemies. As Everlasting Father, He watches over us through eternity, with a gentle paternal firmness and care. And as the Prince of Peace, He is our quietness and rest in a troubled domain, a heaven on earth, an everlasting and peaceful kingdom.

To be in Christ is to know His especial peace that passes understanding. An Angel’s Prophecy to Joseph (Matthew 1: 21) She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. It was a shock for Joseph to be confronted by an angel in his dream, bearing the impossible news of his betrothed Mary’s imminent birth to Jesus, especially so when they were not yet living as man and wife.

His Son is the glorious Saviour, who not only forgives our sins, but is also the destroyer of Sin (1 John 3:8). He came to set us free from the clutches of temporal and eternal Death, and to reconcile us back to His eternal Father through the work of the cross, that we may have life everlasting.

His destruction of sin made possible our dying to self, without which Christlikeness would be unrealistic. Isaiah’s 680 B.C. Prophecy (Isaiah 40: 5) Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together. This prophecy presages a different Advent.

We await and yearn for that final day when He will be revealed in all His glory. It will be a miraculous event where everyone around the world, all of humanity, irrespective of their redemptive state, will simultaneously see Him. This is counter-science (perhaps our mobile devices are implied), but nevertheless exhilarating!

When will that be? Nobody knows, but He has given us some inkling: “when the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth.

And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matt 24:29-30). This expectation of eternity keeps us focused on the Almighty’s temporal command if we are in this world (Matt 28:18-20), until He comes. May we never lose this emphasis, amidst our earthly endeavour, for to detract from it is to miss walking in step with His Holy Spirit.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.