O come, O come, Immanuel, 
and ransom captive Israel 
that mourns in lonely exile here 
until the Son of God appear. 

The people of Israel seemed to stay in captivity. First in Egypt, then in Babylon. In modern times, they have been scattered around the globe. Now they have a country, though unsettled and divided. Yet they are in the land God gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob millennia ago. They know what it means to mourn in exile. At the same time, they know what it means to hope. Through all of Israel’s captivity and exile, they remained full of hope. They believed in the promise God gave Abraham that they would be settled in the land God gave to them.  

What many of them do not understand or yet realize is that the Son of God has appeared. Immanuel has come to ransom captive Israel. Israel is still captive in many ways. They may be moving back in the land God promised them through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but they fail to recognize their Messiah.  

Isaiah 7:14 tells us, 

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. 

I imagine only those close to Mary and her family knew of the scandal surrounding her and Joseph. They knew she was discovered pregnant before they were married. They knew the disgrace that was on them all. What they didn’t know, despite what Mary might have told them, was that Mary was chosen for a special purpose that no other woman could have matched. Of all the young women in Israel at that time, God chose Mary. This Child was prophesied about more than any other in history. Isaiah 9: 6 tells us, 

For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; 
And the government will rest on His shoulders; 
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 

And still Israel missed it.  

I don’t know what you are going through right now. As we journey through this advent season, you may find yourself in your own form of captivity. Maybe you are trying to break free, but you just can’t. Let me encourage you to seek Immanuel. Seek the Prince of Peace. He came to deliver you. He came to ransom you. Whatever entangles you today, you can find release through Him. I will not tell you that everything will be instantly better. That would be a lie. We still must walk through the muck and mire of life. And sometimes captivity is our own doing. Israel had been warned time and again to turn back to their God and they would not. So, they endured captivity at the hands of the Babylonians. For seventy years. But God promised them restoration. There is a limit. God will bring you through it. But He wants your attention. He wants you. Are you mourning in lonely exile? Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you as well.  

All for One  

Angela