The God of Israel is a God who speaks. He spoke the creation into existence! He spoke to Adam, to Noah, Job, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David – to many others. We see that He spoke to the Prophets of Israel; and Yeshua, after His ascension to the right hand of the Father, spoke to the Apostles Peter, Paul, John in the New Testament. God speaks, and it is good for those to whom He speaks when they listen to His voice. (Heb 3:12-12 – 4:1)
Psa 85:8-9 (9-10 Heb) I will hear what God Yehovah will speak; for He will speak peace to His people, and to His saints; but let them not turn again to folly. Surely His salvation is near those that fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land.
What does God speak concerning the birth of His only-begotten Son, Yeshua? Let’s look at how Yeshua’s birth is meant to be a blessing to Israel and to all peoples.
Let’s begin with what Yehovah God spoke to the serpent (the devil) in the Garden of Eden in the presence of the first man and woman at the beginning of history, for us who believe that the prophecies which God gave of a Savior and a Deliverer are fulfilled in Jesus.
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
God speaks here of the Seed of the woman, implying that a male child – a son — would be born through a woman, and that this ‘good’ male would defeat the ‘evil’ seed of the evil one.
What does YHVH God speak to Abram (Abraham), the man whom He chose to cut a covenant with and to make his name great?:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless those that bless you and curse the one who curses you. And in you all families of the earth shall be blessed.
For us who believe in Yeshua as also the Son of Abraham and Son of Adam, we hear God speak that He will guard the honor and dignity of this Seed of the woman.
What does the Holy Spirit tell us through Paul about this spoken promise to our father, Abraham?:
Gal 3:7-9 Therefore know that those of faith, these are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations through faith, preached the gospel before to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all nations be blessed.” So then those of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
God is speaking peace to His people, and to His godly ones (hasidov); He is blessing them in connection with the good news of this child to be born, this son to be given. (Is 9:6-7; Hag 2:19b)
The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob had promised a New Covenant to His sinful people, by which He would forgive them their sins – blessing them with peace. (Jer 31:31-34)
Now we are ready to read the account of Yeshua’s birth, and to listen to what God is speaking to His people Israel, and to all peoples, concerning this male child who was born not too far from here about 2018 years ago:
Lk 2:1-14 And it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be registered, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee to be taxed (out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David).
And he took Mary his betrothed wife, being with child. And while they were there, the days for her deliverance were fulfilled. And she brought forth her son, the first-born, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger– because there was no room for them in the inn.
And in the same country there were shepherds living in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came on them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were grievously afraid. And the angel said to them, Do not fear. For behold, I give to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this is a sign to you: You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. 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, good will toward men.
God is speaking good news of peace to His people Israel until today with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God; but not to the Jewish people only, but also to all peoples: “Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men!” (Mt 28:18-20) This is the blessing which God proclaims from the birth of His Son, King of Israel, to sinful people everywhere. And for those who do believe in Him – His godly ones — His birth carries with it the promise of His coming again to rule in righteousness, as King of kings and Lord of lords! (Is 9:6-7):
Rev 12:1-5 And there appeared a great sign in the heavens, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head, and having a babe in womb, she cries, being in travail, having been distressed to bear. And another sign was seen in the heavens. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads! And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them onto the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman being about to bear, so that when she bears he might devour her child. And she bore a son, a male, who is going to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
In these days when darkness is covering the nations, let us, as sons of light, not return to our former way of life, but let us shine brightly with the good news of hope, encouraging one another as we continue on the way, and proclaiming God’s desire that all should believe on His Son, and inherit everlasting life. Messiah has come, and is coming again quickly! (It accomplishes no good to answer an inquiring person with the confusing controversy over the timing or sanctity of this great marvel.) This is our peace and blessed hope which all the saints and godly ones have, who hear what YHVH God speaks to Israel, and to the Church of God, for all peoples.
