God With Us

Have you ever felt all alone? Growing up as an only child there were definitely times that I experienced loneliness. With all the social distancing and self-quarantining we’ve had to do this year I suspect that many people are feeling more lonely than ever. The ironic thing is, even when we are surrounded by people we can still feel lonely.

I would like to suggest, however, that even though we may feel this way, we are never truly alone.

(Into the Woods video)

As Christians we know that God is always with us. The problem is that we forget. We let the darkness around us claim our attention, we focus on our circumstances instead of God’s promises. Sometimes we trust in our feelings more than our faith. Matthew reminds us that Jesus Christ came so that we would never be alone.

Matthew 1:22–23 NIV84

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

Original context

In 734 BC King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, threatening to overthrow king Ahaz and replace him with a king they controlled. The people are frightened, feeling helpless. God sends Isaiah to Ahaz to say, “Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart …” God says to ask for a sign, Ahaz refuses. God gives him this sign which was confirmation that God would rescue Ahaz and his people from the threat of the other two kings. Two years later, in 732 BC, the king of Assyria had conquered both Aram and Israel. Judah was rescued.

God is reassuring the people that despite the way things may appear, He is still with them.

Fulfilled in Jesus

God delivers us. Only God can save us from ourselves, and in order to do so, God took on human flesh in Jesus with out becoming sinful. This is why the virgin birth took place.

The name Jesus (“God saves”) specifies what he does, while the name Immanuel (“God with us”) specifies who he is. His ability to do what He did is based on who He is.

Matthew sees in Jesus the assurance that in spite of the circumstances in his day, God was still with them.

Promise for us

The promise of God’s presence was not given only for Ahaz and the people of his day, not only to the disciples at the time of Jesus, but for all disciples throughout this age. On his last night before His death Jesus told the disciples:

John 14:20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, who now lives in all believers. Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit brings the life of Jesus into our lives.

Matthew 28:20 NIV84

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

No matter what our circumstances may be, no matter how things may appear, God is still with us.

His promise to be with us entails:

His power for us – set us free from death

His provision for us – sacrifice for our sin

His protection for us – shepherd who leads us

So when we begin to feel helpless and alone, let us seek God’s presence, let us claim God’s promise, let us remember that we are never alone. God is with us.

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV84

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.