A Hope Fulfilled - Advent DevotionalSample

The fullest meaning of the Immanuel prophecy — that “God is with us” — would not have been fully appreciated by Joseph when he heard it for the first time in his dream. Just as King Ahaz was shaking like a tree in the wind when he first heard it (Isaiah 7:2 — see yesterday’s devotion), so Joseph was likely bewildered before the angel of God. But God’s presence with His people has always been the great comfort of Israel — He was present with them in the wilderness when they dwelt in booths/tabernacles; He was present with them when the nations came time and time again to destroy them; and though they rebelled against the covenant and suffered at the hands of the Babylonians, God promised that He would never fully abandon them (see Hosea 1:10).

For Joseph, the fuller meaning of “Immanuel” had not yet been revealed. Many decades later, the Apostle John would write that at the end of time a voice from the throne of Heaven will declare, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3, my emphasis). Just as God stood with the Judeans when they were under attack (again, see Isaiah 7 and yesterday’s devotion), so God would be with God’s people in the incarnation of Christ. Jesus came to “booth” or “tabernacle” among us (John 1:14), to be with us in our wilderness wandering just as God was with the Israelites in their desert wanderings. He is with believers now by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and He will be with His people in the fullest possible sense one day in glory. The song “Mary, Did You Know?” is played often around Christmas time, but perhaps a song should be written titled, “Joseph, Did You Know?” — did he know what it meant that God would be with His people in the fullest possible sense? Do we understand the real power of that promise?

Prayer

Sovereign Lord, you dwelt among us in the person of Jesus, and you dwell with us now by your Holy Spirit. Help us acknowledge your dwelling as we long for its fullest revelation one day in glory. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Jordan Jones, Ph.D., serves as assistant professor of Biblical Studies for the Regent University School of Divinity.