Immanuel, God With Us

Picture found at: https://4mygodsglory.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/christmas-haiku-7/

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:22-23

December is here! I love how excited the kids at school get about Christmas. The anticipation of the coming break from school, holiday gift exchanges, and parties - not to mention Santa and all his “Elf on the Shelf” operatives with their regular shenanigans - is almost more than the kids can stand! (And some days, honestly, it is way more than a teacher can handle!)

It is so easy to lose sight of the reason behind all the celebration--the coming of our Lord and Savior, Immanuel, God with us. My brain has a hard time wrapping around the idea that Jesus came to earth and took on the form of a lowly human, giving up His glory and position to redeem sinners like me. He came to be with us and to make a way for us to forever be with Him.

Last week, our Bible study at church was on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Do you know their story? Three young Jews of noble birth who were taken captive to Babylon from Judah and trained in the Babylonian king’s palace in order to serve in his government took a stand and refused to bow to the golden image the king had ordered everyone to worship. They knew the penalty -- death by fiery furnace. But they boldly refused the king’s command, proclaiming their faith in God to save them if He so chose. And so the furnace was stoked, and they were thrown in. 

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:24-25

The king calls to them, and they walk away from the flames without even smelling of smoke.

As I studied this familiar story, I was struck by the way God chose to save these young men. He did not prevent them from being brought before the king. He did not keep them from being thrown in the fire. He did not put the fire out. Instead, He met them in the fire and protected them from the heat. God was with them in that furnace, and even a ruthless, brutal, unbelieving king gave God the praise and glory for it.

You may be facing your own personal fiery furnace right now. It may look and feel a lot different than the physical furnace of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. You are not likely having to defy a king’s orders and face execution. Maybe though, your furnace is a difficult relationship or family situation. Maybe it’s a work setting that is hostile toward you. Maybe it’s a bleak medical diagnosis for you or a loved one. Maybe it’s the grief of losing someone dear to you. Perhaps it is a mountain of debt that you cannot possibly repay. Maybe it’s something different altogether, but a situation where you see no hope of coming out ahead. Whatever the situation, please know that God is with you. Immanuel has come. He may not choose to provide the miracle that you are praying for -- at least not in the way you have asked. But He is with you, and He has a plan to work even this awful situation for your good and His glory. 

Maybe it’s not you in that fiery furnace situation, but is someone you know there? Could God be calling you to stand with someone else - to provide her love, encouragement, and support in the middle of her trial? You may never know just how much a kind word, a whispered prayer, or a quiet presence could help someone in the midst of their flames. God may use you to remind that person that He truly is Immanuel -- God with us.

Father God, we are so thankful for Your presence in our lives. You have promised to be with us always. Help us to trust You more and to boldly proclaim our faith even in the middle of our fires. Give us the strength to lean on You when things are hard. And help us to be there for each other, reminding one another that You are always our Immanuel.