The Names of God – Immanuel

Before creation Elohim had a plan:  create mankind and become their Adonai (Lord) and their Jehovah God (relational God).  In the Book of Genesis we learn that Jehovah God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  How long Adam and Eve enjoyed their relationship with Jehovah before their fall we are not told.  However, we do know that God’s presence was known and felt in the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve dwelt safely with every provision they needed. 

Adam committed an act of disobedience, which caused what we know as the fall.  This fall brought sin into the world!  Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden and no longer enjoyed Jehovah God’s presence as they did before the fall because sin separated them from God.   This act of disobedience didn’t take Jehovah God by surprise! Being an omniscient God (all knowing), He foreknew their fall in advance.  The unfortunate thing though is that God had to honor Adam and Eve’s decision to choose the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” instead of the “Tree of Life.”  God will never override our decisions because He has given us volition, which is the power of choice.  All choices good or bad have consequences!  Adam’s consequence for disobedience was death.  Elohim told Adam in Genesis 2:17 “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Adam made the wrong choice and mankind ever since has been living in the consequences of his decision called “sin” which equals “death!” 

As stated God already had a plan in place to reconcile mankind back to Him, and we are given glimpses of His plan through several scriptures in the Bible.  For instance:  in Genesis 3:15 the LORD gives Adam and Eve hope by revealing to them He was going to send a male child that would take care of the enemy known as the serpent (satan).  He would be a seed that would come from a woman and the woman’s seed will destroy satan (“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise they head, and thou shalt bruise his heel”);  and in the Book of Exodus, God’s plan to dwell with mankind is evident with the children of Israel when they dwelled in the wilderness.   Jehovah God had Moses build a Tabernacle and the Glory of God’s presence was visibility seen every day over the Tabernacle witnessed as a cloud during the day and by fire at night. 

So, on our final journey studying the names of God, we will review the name “Immanuel.”  Immanuel means “God with us” and is found in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 “behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, “God with us.””  As God promised, He came to earth as a baby born of a virgin woman named Mary.  He came to do the will of the Father as found in John 1:1-14 “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us….”  The Word of God reveals to us that Jesus lived on earth as fully man and fully God and that Jesus is the very “image of the invisible God;” and John 1:18 that “no one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God.”  So, when you see Jesus, you see Father God!  Friends, God Himself left heaven to come to earth to redeem whosoever will believe in Him for eternal life.  Jesus, our Lord is Immanuel – God with Us!

The last three years of Immanuel’s life, He spent in ministry demonstrating to mankind a lifestyle that pleases Father God.  He taught to the masses the will of God in parables and with the Beatitudes.  He taught and demonstrated to the masses what obedience is through His deeds and His acts of righteousness.  Immanuel healed the sick and the lame.  He had compassion on the widows and orphans and welcomed the children with love!  He didn’t embrace the worlds politics and unjust laws, instead He spoke against them without resorting to their level of evil.  He demonstrated the “True Law,” the Word of God.  He called unto Him 12 disciples and taught them about the Kingdom of God and teaching them He and the Father are one!  However, just as today, there were many that didn’t believe He was the “divine Son of God.”  Those who do believe are called the “children of God” and know the presence of God and follow His voice!

Immanuel’s will before creation was to come to earth, die on a Cross to pay the debt of sin for the world so that old testament and new testament saints can be reconciled with Father God and enjoy His presence.  One day soon, though, Jesus will return to earth to dwell with Believers physically.  In the meantime, Born-again Believers have the gift of the Comforter (Holy Spirit) dwelling within them to enjoy the presence of God, to hear His voice, to be taken care of by Father God and to talk to Father God 24/7.  Jesus tells the disciples in John 14:16-17 “and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”  We have the presence of the LORD daily dwelling within our spirit who is HOLY SPIRIT!  Holy Spirit is not only our Comforter, He is also our teacher, He is our Companion, He is our Intercessor, He speaks to us the Words of Father God, He convicts us of sin and unrighteousness.  Friends, Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who “seals us until the day of our redemption“ (Ephesians 4:30). 

Friends, Immanuel is everywhere and it is in Him that holds all things together. It is His presence and His love that provides everything we need to live life on earth victoriously.  It is Holy Spirit who ushers in the “presence of God” during our corporate worship and our personal worship. It is Holy Spirit that gives us “spiritual eyes” to see and behold the Glory of God’s presence in creation.  Psalm 19:1 reads “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shewth his handywork.”  And Psalm 8:1 declares “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.”

God’s presence is with His children because we are valuable to Him!  Matthew 6:26-33 confirms our worth and verse 33 gives us a key principle for victorious living: “We are to put God first in our lives by seeking His Kingdom, then all things shall be added unto us.”  Finally, it is very important to know Immanuel intimately for doing so will drastically change our lives.  We come into the Kingdom of God with many wounds that need healed.  It is Immanuel who wants to heal and restore our wounded souls.  When in Immanuel’s presence, surrender those hurts and pains from the past to Him for hope for the present, and joy for your future. 

For further study read:  John 5:39-47 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

S.N.A.C.K. on the Word