Isaiah 9:6 powerfully describes both the nature and character of the promised Messiah. First his nature: a “Child that is born” (born of a woman, emphasizing his humanity- one of us, Heb.4:15); a “Son that is given” (Isaiah 7:14- “a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son, emphasizing his deity); a “government will be on his shoulders” (a royal lineage, emphasizing his authority). Secondly, we read about his character described by a series of four compound names beginning with Wonderful Counselor (lit. a wonder of a counselor). The next name is Mighty God (el gibbor). Some scholars try to explain that gibbor can also be a noun meaning “hero” and el can mean “great.” Thus instead of attributing deity to the Messiah Isaiah may have only meant that he would be a great hero. However, whenever el gibbor is used in the Bible it always refers to God. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. (Isaiah 10:21; also see Deut.10:17, Jer.32:18, Neh.9:32, Ps.24:8) The Messiah will not only have a wise plan for His people (Wonderful Counselor), but He will have the power to put that plan into effect because He is Mighty God. “The strength which is divine will be the hand obeying the brain that counsels wonder.” (Alexander Maclaren, Exposition of the Holy Scriptures, p. 53) Jesus Christ has a plan for your life and has the power to accomplish it. Do you trust Him or are you “leaning upon your own understanding”? (Prov. 3:5, 6) Just a thought…
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