Prophesied by Isaiah (7:14), it was fulfilled at the birth of the Savior. “ ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’ ” (Matthew 1:23, NKJV). Virgin-born Jesus… Immanuel… God with us!
God was with our most ancient ancestors in the Garden of Eden. The Creator met with His creation, spoke with them, walked with them, communed with them in the sinless sanctuary (Genesis 2:15-25). God with us! Immanuel!
Even after being expelled from Eden, some were faithful to walk with God. “Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Without exiting earth through the portal of death, Enoch walked into heaven to enjoy fellowship and communion with the eternal Immanuel.
“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God”
(Genesis 6:9). Best known as a boat builder, Noah enjoyed the pleasures of the ever-present God… Immanuel.
Abraham too, walked with God. Though raised as a pagan (Joshua 24:2), Abraham answered God’s gracious invitation to “go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:1-2). Abraham heard and heeded Immanuel’s invitation.
After four-hundred years of Egyptian captivity, the emancipated Israelites were instructed to build the tabernacle, a portable temple. God said, “they are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). The omnipresent God revealed Himself as the “glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). During the wilderness wandering, He was Immanuel.
When the long-awaited Messiah came, Jesus “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He pitched His tent in our camp, and they “called His name Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23).
Prior to Jesus’ sacrificial death at Calvary, Jesus consoled His disciples. “I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). “He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). Yes. In fact, “our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Immanuel!
The promise of Immanuel will find its fullest and final fulfillment in Heaven where “God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God” (Revelation 21:3). The unfettered, unrestricted, unhindered communion once known at Eden will be enjoyed by every born-again follower of Christ! Face-to-face, we will see and know Immanuel!
