God has an answer for our fear of being left alone, and it is part of the Christmas message. Matthew gives the good news in his Gospel. “ ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us’ ” (Matthew 1:23).
A woman in Britain understood the importance of this message. Queen Victoria had visited her home and, later, her friends were teasing the elderly woman. Her neighbors asked, “Granny, who’s the most honored guest you’ve ever entertained at your home?” She responded, “Her Majesty the Queen.” They responded, “We thought you would say Jesus was your most honored guest.” She answered, “No, indeed! He’s not a guest. He lives here.”
There are some important observations about the name Immanuel. The heart of that name is the Hebrew word for God, ’El. That name is a declaration that Jesus is God. ’El is the name for God that, in the Old Testament, focuses on His supernatural provision or power. That name for God is used in Genesis 16:7-15 to show God’s provision for Hagar when she ran away from home because of Sarah’s harsh treatment. God showed up to save her life and she responded to the revelation of God’s care with the words, “’El sees me.” In that encounter, God promised prosperity for the family of the son she carried in her womb, Ishmael.
’El came to Abraham in the next chapter of Genesis and renewed the promise of the miraculous birth of the son he had been longing to see, Isaac. Immanuel means that Jesus is the One who provides. He fulfills promises to which we have clung.
Even further, ’El is the root of the most common Hebrew word for God in the Old Testament, ’Elohim. That name, ’Elohim, occurs 39 times in the first two chapters of Genesis. This name for God describes Him as the God who creates out of nothing. He speaks and life and order are created out of chaos. ’El is the mighty God of creation and, as Matthew makes clear in the Christmas story, He is with us.
A little boy who lived in New Haven, Connecticut, was learning the Lord’s Prayer. That night he tried to use what he had learned. He prayed, “Our Father who art in New Haven, How do you know my name?” Robert Luccock observed that the child had stumbled onto one of life’s great questions—how does God know my name?
Christmas means that God not only knows my name but also has chosen to be with me. That is remarkable because of the contrast between us and God. On the one hand, God is holy and pure. On the other hand, we are sinful. We could hardly argue if God had come and said, “I am against you.” He didn’t say that. Christmas is a display of His grace. The miracle Baby of Bethlehem came to be “with” us.
