The name Immanuel appears twice in the Hebrew scriptures and once in the New Testament. Immanuel means, "God with us." It is one of the most comforting and encouraging names or titles of God. God knew that it was impossible for us to come into His presence because of our sins. So, God in His outrageous love for us decided to send Jesus as the "God-man" to earth to fully reveal Himself to us and to bridge the gap that our sin causes, by giving us a savior in Jesus Christ the King. It is a biblical mystery! At no time did Jesus lose His divine nature. Yet the Bible teaches, equally strongly, that Christ became fully human. Because Jesus walked this earth, He is familiar with all that affects us. He understands our pain, our temptations, and our sorrow. Join me in this bible study as we discuss God with us, Immanuel.
Immanuel -God With Us
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “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 1:22-23.
Pronouncing The Name: im-ma-nu-AIL
This is Day 28 of a 30 Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
Immanuel -God With Us: Understanding the Name Of God
The name "Immanuel" first appears in Isaiah 7:14 as part of a prophetic word that Isaiah spoke to King Ahaz of Judah at a time when Syria and Israel had formed a coalition against Assyria. The prophet Isaiah counseled Ahaz not to join in their uprising against Assyria, the region's greatest power, assuring him it would not succeed. He urged Ahaz to trust in the Lord rather than to appeal to Assyria for help against Syria and Israel, who were threatening to invade Judah for not joining their uprising. Then he invited Ahaz to ask the Lord for a sign to confirm the prophetic word, but the unfaithful king refused, having already decided to place his trust not in the Lord but in Assyria.
There is a lesson for us to learn about trusting God when we don't know the way ahead. God had a good plan for Ahaz but he was stubborn and would not listen!
In response to Ahaz when he refused to listen and trust God, the prophet Isaiah said this "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14. Shortly after that Syria and Israel were soundly defeated.
We find this prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament:
Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; [e]blessed are you among women!”
29 But [f]when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I [g]do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38.
These bible verses are very important for you to understand the importance of God revealing Himself to us through Jesus. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit so that His human nature might be sinless. His humanity had both a heavenly origin through the power of God's Holy Spirit and an earthly origin through Mary. This meant that the virgin birth prevented the transfer of a sinful nature so that Jesus could be our sacrificial Lamb to take our sins upon Himself. God truly loves us outrageously!
God Is With You:
It is a biblical mystery! God became no less God when He became human. Mary did not give birth to both God and a man. Mary gave birth to the God-man God with us, Immanuel. God is fully revealed to us in Jesus. When you know Jesus, you know God. Jesus is the complete revelation of God. Jesus is the only begotten Son. Jesus is God with us. He is Immanuel!
What is the difference between Immanuel and Emmanuel?
Have you noticed that the title Immanuel is used in the book of Isaiah and the title, Emmanuel is used in the book of Matthew? Why the two different ways of spelling?
To answer this question, you need to understand that the Old Testament is originally recorded in Hebrew and Chaldean/Aramaic, and the New Testament is originally recorded in Greek. Immanuel is found in the Old Testament and Emmanuel is found in the New Testament. Here are the two verses where they’re found.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 KJV).
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:23 KJV).
With the original text of the Bible not being in English, it must be translated. Different English translations of the Bible use different translation processes. The process that produces the different spelling is called transliteration. The difference between transliteration and translation is that one translates the pronunciation from one language to the other, while the other translates the meaning.
But the two different spellings don't matter. What really matters is that God is with us. Jesus is our Immanuel and through Jesus, we gain entrance into the presence of God.
Emmanuel God With Us:
God is with you! God wants to be intimately involved in our lives. He wants us to know His voice and follow Him. God is with you. No matter what you have gone through or are currently going through, He is with you. Jesus came that we may know God more fully and experience His power in the midst of our circumstances.
When you know Him you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Philippians 4:13.
No matter what you have gone through, you are not alone. No matter what challenges you are facing, God's victory is within your grasp because of His presence with you. You can know His peace. He alone holds the power to turn around any difficult season or loss we may be facing, and bring great blessing and good through it all. In Romans 8:35-39, we are told that God loves us because He wants to, and nothing in creation can separate us from His love.
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake, we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Applying the name of God, Immanuel -God With Us to your life:
How does knowing God as Immanuel -God With Us affect your life?
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
This page has prompts for you to use as you prayerfully meditate on the names of God.
So who is Immanuel to you?
How does knowing God as Immanuel impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as Immanuel?
Praying the Name Of God, Immanuel -God With Us :
When you pray the word of God, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray the names of God. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation, it is declaring His power over it. It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it. When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life. And when you pray to Immanuel, you are praying to God who is with you in every circumstance. He won't abandon you and remember that He loves you outrageously!
Let's Pray: Immanuel- God With Us
Immanuel, You are with me in all that I do. Thank you for loving me outrageously! Thank you for Your Son, Jesus. Thank you that through knowing You and trusting You, I can do all things that come before me because You strengthen me. Amen.
Names Of God printable Bible study
If you are intrigued by the names of God, you will love the Names of God study. Studying the names of God will impact your life. You will be encouraged by them and your faith can only grow deeper and stronger as you discover that God sees you as His treasure. He delights in you!
Grab your own printable/digital copy.
I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via emailkaren@scripturalgrace.comor on our FACEBOOKpage.
Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, Iatros-Physician.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.
