“I will be with you”
Have you ever felt that you are in God’s remedial class? You know the class where God keeps teaching the same lesson various ways until you get it. I don’t think that it is real thing, but it is the way I feel sometimes.
The story of Moses with the burning bush is one of my favorites. Moses out in the wilderness doing his job tending the sheep and God shows up. Take your sandals off. You are standing on Holy ground. “I AM WHO I AM.” All great stuff
Moses asked, “Who am I that I should go to the Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God responded “I will be with you…” I love that response. God didn’t say “Moses, you were the Hebrew baby in the basket, you were the young man in Pharaoh’s court, you are a murderer, a shepherd.” God said, “I will be with you.” It has been said Moses asked the wrong question. Probably Moses should have asked “who is God?” But even with the wrong question God said, “I am with you.”
I like to think that there is parallel story line running through the Bible besides God’s salvation plan for humankind. The story line of He is with us. So many of the happenings tell of God being with those in the fire, those wandering through the wilderness, those in the lion’s den situation after situation. Immanuel means God with us. A few years ago, an amazing opportunity lead me to ask a similar question of God. “Who am I that I should speak at …?” which was the wrong question, but God answered with “I will go with you.”
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” Matthew 1:22-23
Christmas is the celebration of God’s incarnation – God becoming man. In the simplest terms, God putting people clothes on. It is a step in the plan of redemption. A plan that ends not with a death on a cross but with the resurrection.
Christmas is also a reminder that God is with us – Immanuel. May the reality that God is with us change not only our Christmas but our lives.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-8
Ann, what a celebration Christmas time is. A remembrance that God is with us. Good post!
Thank you. Merry Christmas.
I am so thankful that God is with us at all times. May He continue to give me strength to finish this race of life.
His promise as you know is to never leave us or forsake us. One day at a time is all we can do and sometimes all we can do is 10 minutes at a time, I believe God is good with that. Merry Christmas.