Written by Meagan Landis, Global Ministry Associate

Exodus 33:17-23, 1 Kings 19:11-13, Isaiah 43:19, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:21–23

Behold. It’s not a word that we often use in our current culture. If we did, it might sound something like, “Behold, the Amazon truck is here!” Although behold means “to see,” the meaning of behold that we are focusing on today is much more than just “to see” or “look at” something casually. Rather, it is captivating and not easily forgotten.

Think about the last time that you were on the road and heard the sirens of an emergency vehicle. If you are anything like me, my adrenaline kicks in, my eyes bounce from mirror to mirror looking for the vehicle as I find a safe place to pull to the side. It’s one of the few times on the road where everything freezes as the emergency vehicle passes by with its flashing lights and blaring sounds. Everyone stops and looks. They can’t help it. That’s the behold we are talking about.

In the Old Testament, we see behold used over 1000 times—from birth announcements, to the building of the temple, to covenants, to the promise of our Savior. However, my personal favorite comes from 1 Kings 19. At this point in the story, the people of Israel had broken God’s covenant, thrown down His altars, and killed His prophets. Elijah felt like he was the only one left. He was afraid and went on a day’s journey into the wilderness asking to die. The Angel of the Lord met him there, giving him food to eat and the strength needed to journey to Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai), known as the Mount of God. In Hebrew, “Horeb” translates to a “site of ruins” or “dry land.”  Although this place might sound like a desert, it is significant—from God making a covenant with His people, to Moses and the burning bush, to the Ten Commandments, to Elijah receiving a vision. This is also the location where God passes by both Moses (Exodus 33:17-23) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:11-13).

“And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by…” (1 Kings 19:11a)

At this point in history, humankind could not look at the face of God and live. But behold the God who desires to be relational with His children, in the “site of ruins,” revealed Himself. They had an encounter with the living God, and they were forever changed by that moment.

Isaiah tells us, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)

He has made a way in the wilderness.
He makes rivers, not streams or quiet still waters.
He makes rivers that are rushing and raging, that are full of life, that overcome barriers in the “site of ruins,” in the “dry land,” and in the desert.

This is the God that says, “BEHOLD, I am doing a new thing.”

The book of Isaiah also holds the most important “behold” in the Old Testament, as we are given a prophecy that is fulfilled in the New Testament.

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
     “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). —Matthew 1:21–23

God, desiring to be relational with His children, sent His Son, Jesus, so that we might have eternal life. It’s the new thing. It’s the river in the desert.

He is coming!
The King is coming!
Our Savior is coming!
Behold!