Isaiah 9:6 answers that question for us
….And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
If we understand even this verse it changes our view of Jesus immensely.
He is wonderful – we take this word to mean something somewhat normal, as when we say, “that meal was wonderful, this gift is just wonderful,” but in this context and in the Hebrew it means so much more.
Isaiah is telling us that Jesus is…
– incomprehensible
– filling us with “awe” in every way
– beyond any words or action, our human tongues could describe
How is this a blessing to us?
Isaiah is prophetically saying “don’t put God into a box,” you think He can only do this or that, there is no limit to what He is and what He can do. If we will let Him He will blow your mind every time. He can and will accomplish for us things that are beyond words.
He raises the dead, feeds thousands with a few loaves and fish,
Ephesians 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Counselor – were portrayed as wise Kings such as Solomon they could guide their people into freedom and wholeness
Isaiah is prophesying that Jesus will give us all the wisdom, guidance and understanding that we need to not only make it through the day but have great success for a lifetime
Colossians 2:3 tells us this
“in whom (in Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
There is never any reason for us to fail for the long term because he will give us the wisdom we need…just a little hint you will have failings on the short term if not you are probably not walking by faith…you are too comfortable or too safe
Our wonderful counselor is there to always give us the wisdom we need even when we fail or even if we blow it and go against Him
The entire Old Testament is replete with stories of Israel failing God, them repenting then God working it all out for their good even punishing those who hurt them while they were walking in rebellion.
Hebrews 4:15,16 shows us that He truly understand what we are going through and longs to help us through and out of it.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Our counselor guides us always if we are willing to listen and guides us through the fruit of our failures when we have blown it. He has already judged this world and has chosen us to bring the light of hope of what we have learned to bring others to freedom.
Mighty God –
First we have to recognize Isaiah is saying without a doubt that Jesus is God…not a God as Jehovah’s witnesses, and new age philosophers would like us to believe but truly equal with God in every way unlike what Mormons, Muslims and others would have us believe.
The Hebrew word for God here means simply “God”
John 10:30 I and My Father are one.”
John 8:58 “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
The use of the phrase “I am” is saying He is God, “I am” is God’s name
Isaiah using the word “mighty” is simply saying Jesus is powerful and strong but the intensive form of the word is used here meaning he is more powerful and stronger than anything period. There is nothing more powerful or stronger than Him.
He is the greatest fighter and he can not be defeated
To us this child is God and we have a personal and intimate relationship with Him who always was and will be, the one who created everything and there is nothing that you will face that he can not defeat and overcome…if you will allow Him!
Everlasting Father – Jesus as the Father? While they indeed are one this verse is not taking away from Father-God it is merely stating some attributes of Christ that we need to understand
– He is forever…he was in the beginning and will be in the end
John 1:1-4,14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
He possesses the heart of the Father he will always protect and provide for His Children and enable them to grow. As any good Father does
He will love, protect, and provide for us without end!
For us, it means we can depend upon Him forever to supply what we need as long as we allow Him to
Prince of peace – in a world of chaos and war it doesn’t seem as if this is true until you understand what this means
His being our prince of peace means he is the one who brings us restoration with God
Remember this passage John 14:27,28
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
He is the prince of peace over you and I and anyone submitted to Christ.
– He will deliver us through the storms and floods
– He will give us strength and peace through everything and anything the world and this world system can throw at us
– Your peace is inside of you not based on external circumstances
This peace is a contentment, a unity with the family of God, and understanding of God’s divine purpose and most of all a resting and trusting on the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit in your life daily!
This world system is a failure there is no hope for it. We are to expect trials and tribulation Jesus told us to, John 16:33, Paul told us to, Romans 5:3-5, James told us to, James 1:2 but
No matter what we face we have the wonderful, counselor, mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace with us and for us…He wants us to bring the light, the freedom, the joy, and the love that we know to a world void of all of this
Philippians 4:6,7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God has not only got every problem you may face and your entire future in His hands
He is
– more than you can imagine
– has all the wisdom you need
– is God in every sense of the word
– more powerful than you can imagine
– your protector and provider always
– your contentment always
This is why we need to pray and fast so we can grasp all the Lord has for us we need to understand we need this power, strength