Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 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.
The Hebrew letter mem, equivalent to our English letter “M,” has a fascinating characteristic: it has two forms. The “open mem” appears at the beginning or middle of a word, with a small opening in its design. The “closed mem,” however, is used exclusively as the final letter in a word, fully sealed in its appearance. This distinction is consistent throughout the Hebrew language—except for one extraordinary exception found in the Bible.
In Isaiah 9:6-7, we find this exception within the word l’marbeh, which means “to the increase.” Normally, the word would have with an open mem, but here, a closed mem is used instead. This unique occurrence appears in Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” The closed mem is a deliberate anomaly, drawing attention to this passage and pointing to a deeper truth about the Messiah.
Rabbinic tradition connects the letter mem to the womb. An open mem symbolizes a womb that is ready to give birth, while a closed mem represents a sealed womb. This detail in Isaiah’s prophecy aligns perfectly with the earlier prophecy in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel [God with us].” The closed mem in l’marbeh hints at the miraculous virgin birth of the Messiah, whose arrival would defy natural understanding.
This small, yet profound detail in the Hebrew text reminds us that God’s Word is intricately woven with meaning. The Messiah’s birth was no ordinary event; it was a miraculous act of God’s divine plan to bring salvation to the world. As we reflect on this, let’s marvel at the richness of God’s Word and His perfect design, which points us to the glory and majesty of Yeshua (Jesus), the promised Savior.
No matter how impossible your situation may seem, remember this: Yeshua, the Messiah, is the ultimate Breaker. He broke forth from the closed womb to fulfill God’s plan, and He broke free from the tomb to give us victory over sin and death. He tore down every barrier that once separated us from God and from one another. If you’re feeling stuck, trapped, or in need of a breakthrough, take heart! The same Messiah who opened the way for all of humanity can bring freedom and hope to your life. Trust Him to make a way where there seems to be no way—He’s the God of breakthroughs!
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]An aging king woke up one day to the realization that should he drop dead, there would be no male in the royal family to take his place. He was the last male in the royal family in a culture where only a male could succeed to the throne – and he was aging. He decided that if he could not give birth to a male, he would adopt a son who then could take his place but he insisted that such an adopted son must be extraordinary in every sense of the word. So he launched a competition in his kingdom, open to all boys, no matter what their background. Ten boys made it to the very top.
For centuries in Ethiopia, there have lived a people we now know as the Falashas. They kept all sorts of Biblical traditions and call themselves Beta Yisrael (House of Israel). As experts began to study the matter, it became clear that these were descendants of the Jewish people who came to Africa in ancient times and intermarried. Unbeknownst to many, a percentage of them became believers in Jesus over the years. Jesus (or Yeshua, as they called Him) became a part of their identity as Jewish people. Many Falashan Jews worshipped Jesus as their Messiah and continued to practice Jewish tradition.
Why is it that some believers seem to go much deeper in their walk with God than others? I believe it has to do with a desire to pursue God and not to stop until they feel His very presence in their lives. These believers decide not to settle for anything less than a growing, vibrant relationship with God, and God honors that desire for those who seek it.
This pivotal passage of scripture, Isaiah 52 and continuing into Isaiah 53, profiles a suffering servant whom the nation of Israel would not recognize. The spiritual leaders of Yeshua’s (Jesus) day were blinded to the messianic passages which pointed to the messiah’s role as a humble servant and bearer of sins.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of California Los Angeles wanted to find out, “if you had to choose between more time and more money, what would it be?” While they found most respondents answered, “more money”, they also found that those who preferred “more time” were generally happier! When I read this article, it reminded me of a story, that I’d like to share.
The Apostle Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:6 against desiring evil as they did, would seem to point to the obvious sins – lying, stealing, adultery, fornication, etc. – and following their deliverance from slavery, many of the children of Israel were certainly guilty of some of these. But this passage in Numbers describes a type of sin we don’t normally consider: it was simply their desire for the foods they ate in Egypt.
The Apostle Paul continues his warning to the Corinthians against idolatry by referring to Israel’s celebration/worship of the golden calf. Aaron’s proclamation, “These are your gods (plural) O Israel” could be one of the earliest declarations mixing the worship of the true and living God, YHVH, with idols. This is called “syncretism”. Dictionary.com defines it: ” the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.”