It’s a favorite verse at Christmastime, but the promise of Isaiah 7:14 can empower our lives all year long. Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23)—what a startling, staggering thought!
The ancient Hebrews envisioned God as high and lifted up on His heavenly throne, or perhaps sequestered in the Most Holy Place at the temple in Jerusalem.
Either way, God was thought to be more “aloof from” than “with” His people. Sadly, a lot of people still feel this way about God.
How tragic that we forget about God walking and talking with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8–9). And even after the fall, He continued to graciously come near to Old Testament believers.
He was very much “with” Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and others. Despite His holiness, God drew close to sinful creatures and made Himself accessible to His people.
The prophecy of “God with us” was fulfilled at the coming of Christ. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, making Him fully God and fully man.
The apostle John described the momentous event of the incarnation this way: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Literally the eternal Son of God “pitched His tent” among humankind.
Because He lived among us, Jesus is able to be a high priest who knows what it is like to be human (Hebrews 4:15).
Through His work on the cross, He opened a way of unfettered access to God—available anytime and anywhere. And one day we will see God’s face as we walk with Him again (Revelation 22:4).
For you today, Immanuel is more than a Christmas saying. It means God came close in Christ, and did all that is necessary to bring us back to Himself.
In Christ, God came near us to be with us, to die for us, so that He might, by His Spirit, live in us.
Wonder at the promise of Immanuel today:
• He promises to live in us. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Ephesians 3:17)
• He promises to never walk away from us. (Hebrews 13:5)
God came near to us when we could not come near to Him.
God wants to be with you, close to you. How can embracing God’s presence make a difference in your life today?
