The Sign of Immanuel

A Reflection for the fourth Sunday of Advent by Reverend Charlene Rotvold 

Lectionary reading for 12/21/2025: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Selected passage for reflection: John 3:25 – 26, 31-32

Read

Isaiah 7:10-16 

¹⁰ Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: ¹¹ “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”

¹² But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”

¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? ¹⁴ All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). ¹⁵ By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. ¹⁶ For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.

Reflect

How many refrigerator magnets quote these words: Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). Isaiah 7:14

If only we could begin and end with this. No context. No dual message. No political climate. As if this sweet little verse, written 700 years before the birth of Jesus, was only about the future birth of the Messiah (whose name is Jesus and whose nature is Immanuel). We’re so familiar with these twenty-five words in isolation that it throws everything off kilter when we read them in context, right? 

Although it’s one of the best-known passages foretelling the Christ child, I’ve long wrestled with it in context because it forces me to consider some complicated conundrums. Evil king Ahab (who’s yet listed in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus). His seemingly righteous refusal to put God to the test by demanding a sign (even though Yahweh told him to do so). Isaiah’s questionable exasperation (isn’t it virtuous to refuse to put God to the test?). An odd verse about the foretold child choosing right, rejecting wrong, and eating yogurt and honey. And a politically charged closing statement that references the political climate of the day. 

What in the world is going on here? What on earth do these surrounding verses have to do with sweet baby Jesus, God with us, Savior of the world, Christmas carols, and eggnog, for heaven’s sake? 

The answers to these involve much more than we have time for today. But know this. We don’t read one verse alone. Ever. Just like we don’t read one Testament alone (there are two). Or one book alone (there are sixty-six). And as we read, we ask, “What did these words mean to those who lived when they were written?” and “What do these words mean to me today?” Both are valid. Both essential. One narrative arc, revealed over the 1500 years it took to write our Book (Genesis to Revelation). 

How then do we read? How do we find meaning? By engaging. Wrestling – honestly. Asking questions. Embracing dissonance. Inviting the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to reveal. And relaxing and resting in the truth of God, which is far beyond our ability to understand. 

Does this passage foretell the coming Christ child? Yes. Does this passage address its current political climate? Also yes. Are we wise to refuse to test God? Yes. Did God command King Ahaz to put God to the test? Also yes. Come, Holy Spirit. Come. 

Respond 

What do we do when faced with confusing, complicated messages (in this passage and countless others)? Invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth. Read in context. Read again. Pay attention to what rises to the surface, demanding attention and prayer. Lean into resistance, refusing to skip over the odd parts and focus only on the magnet-worthy words. Read again. Trust God’s truth, even if it doesn’t make sense. And in today’s passage, receive the gift of prophecy, remembering that this isn’t the only time Isaiah foretells the coming Messiah. 

Rest 

Creator God, revealing Spirit, Immanuel… Be with us today as you were with the Israelites ages ago. Be with us in our stumbling, bumbling, disorienting, joy-pursuing pursuits. Be with us in our longing for understanding. Be with us in our grieving and rejoicing. Be with us as we mark time, one day after another, God-ward. Be with us. Be. With. Us. God and gift. Savior and friend. Forgiver and Messiah. Immanuel.

About the Author

Char serves as the Care & Connect Pastor at Faith Covenant Church in Burnsville, MN. She’s married to Kirk, mom to Kyle & Erika, and mom-in-law to Emma. Aside from pastoring, Char is a trained coach and spiritual director within the ECC. In her free time, she’s often found with her nose in a book, outside running or cross country skiing, camping in the BWCA, or enjoying time with her family and friends.