The Hebrew word for God, “El,” is found all over the Bible in the names of people and places, often flying under our radar. Before you look down and continue reading, take a moment and see how many you can list on your own.
Daniel – “God is my judge”
Elijah – “my God is YHWH”
Elisha – “God is salvation”
Elkanah – “God has created”
Samuel – “the name of God”
Ezekiel – “God strengthens”
Joel – “the Lord is God”
Gabriel – “man of God”
Michael – “who is like God?”
Elizabeth – “God is an oath”
Nathaniel – “God has given”
Israel – “he that strives with God”
Bethel – “house of God”
Gamaliel – “reward of God”
Ishmael – “God hears”
Eleazar – “God has helped”
Eliab – “my God is father”
But one name stands out far beyond all the others – Immanuel. The name is only found three
times in the Bible, twice in the Old Testament prophecy about the coming Messiah (Isaiah 7 and 8), and once in the New Testament, recounting the fulfillment of that Old Testament prophecy. The prophecy is found in Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel.” Pastor John has been preaching on that passage and its context for the last couple of weeks.
The fulfillment of the prophecy is recounted in the story of the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1:23, which quotes Isaiah 7:14. But Matthew goes one step further than Isaiah. He is very helpful to us, his readers, and adds the translation of the name Immanuel – “God with us.” Thousands of years had passed since God drove rebellious Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Thousands of years during which the Creator dealt with his disloyal and recalcitrant human creation at arm’s length. Years during which the continual shedding of blood was the only way to cover sin. And years during which an ongoing intimate relationship with the holy Creator was not an option for sinful man. And then God provided the Solution, planned from before the beginning.
The Old Testament Scriptures pointed to it; the people expected it, though they were clueless as to the form it would take and didn’t recognize it when it arrived. The Incarnation - the most logic-defying miracle in the history of the world. The second member of the Trinity, the Son, “emptied Himself” of His Godhood and took on the “likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). God, becoming a man, reduced the infinite distance between Himself and mankind to zero. Immanuel, God with us. And He lived a perfect life, teaching us in turn how to live. And He was killed, taking on Himself all the sin of all mankind, past, present and future, providing a once-for-all final blood sacrifice to not just cover temporarily man’s sin, as in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, but to forgive it completely (Hebrews 9:11-14). And then He rose, conquering death and paving the way for our eventual resurrection (I Corinthians 15:20-23). And finally, Jesus ascended into heaven to sit in triumph at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34).
Someone might then say, “So God is no longer with us. He is ‘Immanuel’ no longer.” But Jesus did not leave mankind on its own. He left us His Spirit (Acts 1:5,8), who (among other things) dwells within us, and illuminates the Word of God for us, and fills us, and comforts us, and produces spiritual fruit in us, and equips us with gifts, and seals our inheritance and convicts us of sin. God’s presence permeates His people. He is still with us.From the first moment in the manger until now, God has been with us, and that will never change (Matthew 28:20).
What wonderful words of reassurance for all of us who believe. If you have not believed, what a wonderful time to begin a relationship with God. Through physical pain, through emotional pain, through spiritual pain, God is there with us. When we are rejected, when we are overlooked, God is there with us. He rejoices with us when we revel in the love of surrounding family and the joys this life offers, and He weeps with us and hugs us tightly in the dark despair when we can’t see the way forward and are not sure we will make it through another day.In this world where a true guarantee is nearly impossible to find, God promises “never to leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).
He truly is Immanuel – God with us. God with you.
Listen to the audio version
About the author:
Brad Snyder, Senior Ministry Director
office@hannaford.org
406-449-2273
Brad received a degree in Biology Education long ago from Liberty University and another in Biology from Montana State University almost as long ago. The first twenty years of his career he worked with young people in various capacities. The second twenty years were spent with the Social Security Administration. Recently retired, Brad looks forward to the challenges of a new ministry. He feels that seniors are a vital part of the church Body and though he has only recently crossed the threshold of “senior-dom,” he trusts that God can use Him to help seniors build a stronger relationship with God and stronger relationships with others. The senior years are accompanied by unique challenges, and Brad hopes to be able to come alongside seniors to pass along God’s hope and encouragement.
Brad and his wife Erin began attending Hannaford in November 2019. They have three grown children and two grandchildren (and a third due Spring 2026).
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