12-27-2014

        Good Morning All,

        Matthew 1:23; “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”

      One thing that gets stressed at this time of year is the idea that we need to spend it with others, especially those whom we love.  This is the time of the year with the greatest amount of travel.  People tend to try to get home to be for the holidays.  We tend to find comfort, acceptance, love and a welcoming environment.  It is usually where we find safety and reassurance.

     While the Israelites were wondering through the wilderness after they crossed the Red Sea, they were a large group of people trying to head home.  They had been slaves for hundreds of years; they had seen their children, specifically sons, killed by the Egyptians.  They worked hard all day and cried all night at their plight.  So when Moses led them out of Egypt, they were a little worried about being alone.  So God, in his loving manner, lived with them.  He set up his tent in their midst.  He was Immanuel- God is with us.

    God’s very presence was with the Israelites as they travelled throughout the desert.  The Israelites saw it as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of smoke by day.  These pillars would rise high up and be wide so they were easily seen.  As the Israelites faced the challenges of living in the desert, the lack of food and water and the marauding nomads, they would need someone to look to for protection.  They really had no idea where they were going so they needed someone to lead them safely.  They were kept safe because of Immanuel- God was with them.

   Yet when the Israelites turned away from God, they lost Immanuel.  So they went centuries without truly experiencing the very presence of God.  They felt as if God was not with them so they would long for the days of when God was truly with them, when he pitched his tent and lived in their midst; they dreamed of a time that was Immanuel.  They dreamed of the time in the past and they looked forward to a time when it would return.

    This is the richness of the promise that the angel announced that he shall be called Immanuel- God with us.  The safety and peace that the people knew when God was dwelling with them, in their very midst was to return.  Jesus is Immanuel; he is God with us.  So we can know our security through him.  We can know that we are welcome in his presence as he dwells with us.  He is our home in times of trouble; he is our safe harbor from the storms of this life; he is our Immanuel.

Gracious Father, you lovingly sent Jesus that we may once again know what it is to live in your presence, to know what it is to have you live in our midst that we may know the safety, the security of your love.  We have Immanuel for you are present in our hearts and in our lives. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret