He Will Be With Us

by

Dads give their sons nicknames. It goes along with the territory. Jesus’ nickname, introduced by the angel, must have comforted Joseph. Immanuel. God is with us.

The angel’s reminder (Matthew 1:23) of Isaiah’s promise (Isaiah 7:14) must have been what he desperately needed. If you were about to face your family, friends, and community with the news that your betrothed was pregnant but claiming that no earthly father was responsible, I’d imagine you would want some reassurance. I can’t think of any more significant promise of God than the presence of God. As Joseph went forward with his adoptive son in tow, he would constantly be reminded of how to endure the challenges with the fact that God was with him.

22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,

which is translated “God is with us.”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.

Matthew 1:22-25

The promise of God’s presence was not initiated in Joseph’s dream; it was a constant throughout the Scriptures and should be the hope of our lives.

  • Creation’s opening days saw Yahweh so close to Adam and Eve that He would stroll through the garden daily to talk with them (Genesis 3:8).
  • Throughout the trials of Joseph in the Old Testament, Scripture repeatedly reminds us that he endured due to God’s presence being with him (Genesis 39:2, 3, 21, 23).
  • When Moses was overwhelmed with the task ahead, Yahweh didn’t embolden Moses with false assurances of his abilities but guaranteed His presence (Exodus 3:12).
  • As Joshua took up the mantle of leadership without Moses’ guidance, he had no reason to fear because Yahweh promised, “I will be with you, just as I was with Moses” (Joshua 1:5).
  • Gideon hid in fear, but the angel encouraged him with a simple reminder, “the LORD is with you” (Judges 6:12).
  • Through every deadly battle, David feared no evil because God was with him (Psalm 23:4). 

If these heroes of the faith accomplished great things for the LORD, what was their secret? It was not what they could do but about who was with them. The frailest person in the world walking with Immanuel is more fortified than the most dominant person in history. 

The most tremendous reassurance God could ever give us is that He is with us. We are not alone! He has not left us to figure out this world by our lonesome.

Your family may abandon you, your friends may desert you, and your associations may turn their backs on you, but God will never leave you. There has never been a moment when God was not Immanuel.

He has proven His sure presence time and time again. Even when we are unaware, we are grounded by the consistent presence of God. Do not listen to the deceitful thoughts that you are forgotten and forsaken. God is with you no matter where you are. That is the promise we need at this time of year and every other day in between.