The first mention of a coming Messiah is found in Genesis 3:15, “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.”
After the serpent leads Adam and Eve into sin, humankind is trapped in a cosmic hostage crisis. But God responds in a full-scale covert operation to fight for humanity. His strategy is to squash the serpent through a descendant of Eve – a Rescuer who will give His all to the struggle. And though He would be wounded, this Son of Man would ultimately be victorious in combat. God’s plan pivots on embedding Jesus behind ‘enemy lines’ where He will battle Satan head-on and triumph against sin and death.
Reporting on Jesus’ assault on the serpent, the Apostle Paul describes God’s war plans. In Romans 16:20, he wrote, “The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Note on Genesis 3:15 from the New Living Translation) God always has a plan.
In Numbers 24:17, we have a further prophecy concerning the coming Messiah. Balaam prophesies, “I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.”
Balaam was the son of Beor. (Numbers 22:5) He was hired to place a curse on God’s people, but every time he opened his mouth, a blessing came out instead. In the verse just mentioned, Balaam predicts a future advent of a royal conqueror who would triumph over Moab and Edom.
In Ecclesiastes 9:14-15, we read of One who came, saved, and was forgotten. “There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came and besieged it and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and He by His wisdom delivered the city, but no one remembered that poor man.”
In Isaiah 7:14, we have a prophecy stating that the coming Messiah would be born of a virgin. “Therefore, the LORD Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel.”
The Hebrew word ‘virgin’ occurs seven times in the Old Testament. It means a young woman of marriageable age, normally a virgin.
The name Immanuel means “God with us.” The name conveys God’s promise to save, bless, and protect His children. Isaiah gives us further insight into the uniqueness of the coming Messiah. (Isaiah 9:6-7) “For unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom. To order it and establish it with judgment and justice, from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Folks, Jesus is a Wonderful-Counselor. Read what He taught in the four gospels, and you will be amazed at His wisdom. Mighty God speaks of a warrior who protects His people. Everlasting Father speaks of a Father and King who cares for His people. (Isaiah 40:9-11, 65:17-25; Matthew 18:12-14; 23:9-12; Romans 8:15-17) Prince of Peace says that Jesus’ kingdom will be one of peace. Right now, what peace we have is maintained by armies. Jesus said that the peace He gives is far different from the peace the world offers. (Zechariah 9:9-10)
In Luke 2:13-14, we have an angel announcing the birth of the Savior. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”
What a day, glorious day it will be when Jesus comes to set up His kingdom. We have so much to look forward to.
To God be the glory,
Pastor Leonard
