Nov 28 - God Is With Us

God is With Us

Monday, November 28, 2022

by Joy Ross

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7

Key Verse:

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).  Isaiah 7:14

The original context of this scripture is God offering Ahaz the confidence, or peace, that he could rescue Ahaz from his enemies, in order to strengthen his faith. We understand this scripture to be a prophecy about the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

Matthew seems to understand it similarly because he quotes it in reference to the angel appearing to Joseph in a dream, telling him not to be afraid to take Mary home as his wife after finding out about her pregnancy (Matthew 1:23). The angel is offering God’s peace to Joseph in this decision.

In Luke chapter one, the angel Gabriel comes to Mary to inform her of God’s favor and that she had been chosen to bear God’s own son. Gabriel told Mary “Do not be afraid” offering her God’s peace regarding this life-changing news. The Bible tells God’s people numerous times to

“not be afraid (for I am with you)”. Here are just a few examples: Genesis 26:24, Deuteronomy 1:21, Isaiah 44:8, Matthew 10:31, Mark 5:36, John 14:27. There are many more!

Mary will endure a lot of shame and judgement from her friends and neighbors most likely for an extended time, as will Joseph. Yet her response is one of peace and acceptance: “I am the LORD’s servant; may it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).

Are we so connected to God that we could respond in a similar way as Mary did to such life-changing news, with acceptance and peace? Ultimately Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled around 700 years later in the birth of Jesus. He rescues us from our enemies, our own sins, and reunites us spiritually with God for all times- “God with us;  Immanuel”.

I pray for focus today, dear God, because during Advent, my mind and attention tend to wander. There are so many distractions, many of them well-meaning. But nothing gives my heart rest like resting in You. I pray that I keep You as the focus of my day today, because I know the peace that only You offer. Amen.