Names of Jesus : Immanuel/Emmanouel

So, this week I'm starting my 13-week (2 names a week) series on the Names of Jesus. I'll be basing my blogs off of the book "Praying the Names of Jesus" by Ann Spangler. She also wrote a book called "Praying the Names of God." (Who knows? We might do that next. (: ) But for today, we're going to start with "Immanuel."

Immanuel comes from the Greek word "Emmanouel," meaning "with us is God" or "God with us." I think that this is one of my favorite names for Jesus. I love the thought that He is constantly with us and constantly by our side. However, this may not always bode well for us. The fact that He is with us always also means that He sees our sin. He sees the sin that maybe no one else knows about. He sees it all. But here's the kicker - He still loves us. Unconditionally. He wants us to turn around and ask Him for His forgiveness. After all, He's already paid for our sin on the Cross.

Another important aspect to look at is how this name came about. In Bible times, what you named your children was a likely indicator of the rest of their lives. For example...Jacob and Esau. Jacob means "deceiver" and Esau means "hairy." (Genesis 25:25) Throughout Jacob's life, he was constantly deceiving people. And, well, Esau was hairy. (Remember how Jacob tricked his father into giving him Esau's birthright? Exactly. He dressed himself in goat skin! Genesis 27:11-14) Well, the first time you see the name "Immanuel" is in Isaiah 7:14. King Ahaz (of Judah) was being pressured to join the revolution against Assyria by Syria and Israel. However, Isaiah told Ahaz that it wasn't going to work and that he needed to trust God rather than ask Assyria for help to fight Syria and Israel. (They were threatening to invade Judah for not joining the uprising.) Isaiah told Ahaz to ask God to show him a sign to prove that Isaiah was telling the truth. Instead, Ahaz approached Assyria for help. Because of this, Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of human beings? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel." This prophecy was fufilled through the birth of Christ. (Matthew 28:20)

Fundamental Truths About This Name:

There is no place you can go where God is not.

"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the Heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast." - Psalm 139:7-10

Though it may seem like He's not there with you, He is keeping you in His hand.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep you away. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames wll not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior." - Isaiah 43:2-3

He will never leave you.

"...because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5b

When God is with you, who can be against you?

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9