The old adage that sometimes “we can’t see the forest for the trees” is apparent in many areas of life. A look back often astounds us as to how the obvious was overlooked or neglected. That also is true concerning spiritual matters.

God’s prophet to the nation Israel painted a portrait of the nation’s unbelief and rejection of Messiah some seven hundred years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah began his word painting with an ominous statement … “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed” (Isa 53:1 NIV)? It carried the solemn overtones of rejection and destruction for the nation. With that preface to his message, the prophet presented the coming and rejection of Messiah.

Centuries before the Jewish nation came into existence God revealed His plan for bringing a Savior into the world. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:2-3 NIV). God narrowed the parameters of His promise to Abram through Moses and the prophets as they spoke of the coming of the God of Israel into the world to offer Himself as a sacrifice for their sins and that of the entire word. So specific was their message that there could be no denying as to His Person of Work.

The message to Israel revealed that God would become human flesh and be born of a virgin. “Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isa 7:13-14 NIV).

God would have a medical doctor verify the prophet’s message. “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1 26-33 NIV).

Other prophets focused the lens of God’s revelation to man concerning His gift of a Savior. Micah identified the exact place of Jesus’ birth … “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Mic 5:2 NIV). At the right time in God’s prophetic calendar, He came and the last of all the prophets declared upon seeing Jesus … “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1 29b NIV)!

Though many Jews believed in Him as their Savior-King, the nation as a whole rejected Him. Ezekiel declared to the nation doomed to captivity … “But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate” (Ezek 3:7 NIV). It was another missed opportunity to believe in the preincarnate Christ who on the Cross would redeem sinful man from the penalty and punishment of sin.