God With Us—Then and Now

“Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:14 (NRSVUE)

Have you ever faced a moment when you weren’t sure how things would turn out—when fear or uncertainty seemed bigger than hope? Maybe while waiting to hear about a job opportunity after extended unemployment, or anxiously awaiting the results of a biopsy. That’s exactly where King Ahaz found himself centuries ago, facing enemies at his gates and fearing the collapse of his kingdom. Into that fear, God spoke a word of reassurance.

In Isaiah’s day, God gave a sign: a child would be born, called Immanuel, meaning “God is with us.” For Ahaz, this was reassurance that God’s presence was real even in political turmoil. For Isaiah’s people, this promise was immediate and local—a reminder that God had not abandoned them in their crisis.

Centuries later, the Gospel of Matthew recalls this very verse: “All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:22-23). Matthew quotes the Greek translation of Isaiah, which uses the word “virgin,” helping early Christians see Jesus’ birth as the fullest expression of Immanuel.

For Isaiah’s people, this promise was for their own time. Followers of Christ have long understood Matthew’s Gospel to point to Jesus’ birth as its ultimate fulfillment.

What was once a word of comfort in crisis became the living reality of God’s love in Christ. And Jesus himself promises, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). In him, Immanuel is not just a name but a reality—God’s presence embodied, God’s promise fulfilled. The name Immanuel is not just history, a promise to a long-ago king in a distant land, but it is our present hope for the here and now.

The message is both historical and present: God was with Ahaz in his fear, and God is with us in ours. Whatever uncertainty we carry today—personal struggles, community challenges, or global anxieties—we can trust that Immanuel is more than a name. It is God’s covenant promise, stretching from ancient Judah to our own lives: I am with you.

Gracious God, you were with your people long ago, and you are with us now. In our fears, remind us of your presence. In our hopes, strengthen us with your love. May we live today with the assurance that Christ is truly Immanuel—God with us. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim