Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore God will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.’ – Isaiah 7: 13-14
Here we are at another Advent season among a troubled, fearful time.
The world seems to be drowning in chaos.
Every day brings new reports of cruelty and death.
People are forced into uncertain suffering exile.
Leaders search for solutions for their frightened people.
Fear erodes values.
We need a sign to keep us going.
What better one than Isaiah’s prophesy of One who would be “God with us”, providing us security from danger through faith.
Help us to pray in this Advent the prayer of an old familiar hymn:
‘Come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples to one heart and mind.
Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease,
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel’.
Priscilla Gifford is an 87-year-old member of Cairn Christian Church, Lafayette, Colorado USA
