GOD WITH US

“God With Us (Immanuel)” (Ahaz and Joseph)   

Isaiah 7:10–16; Matthew 1:18–25        12/21/2025

On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we are very close to Christmas. Almost all the candles are lit. Our hearts are full of hope and expectation. But today’s Scriptures remind us of something important: the story of Jesus did not begin with peace and certainty. It began with fear, confusion, and hard choices.

God did not enter a calm world. God entered a troubled one. And into that fear, God speaks a powerful promise: “I am with you.”

Today we hear that promise through the name Immanuel, which means God with us.

And we see two very different responses to that promise—one from King Ahaz, and one from Joseph. Their stories invite us to ask: How do we respond when God assures us of God’s presence? This question is for both you and for me today.

In Isaiah 7, the kingdom of Judah is in danger. King Ahaz is afraid because two neighboring alliance countries are planning to attack Jerusalem and remove Ahaz as king. Enemy armies are approaching. The future looks unstable. Ahaz feels pressure from every side. Instead of trusting God, Ahaz is thinking about asking the powerful Assyrian Empire for an alliance with his kingdom.

So God sends the prophet Isaiah with a message meant to calm fear and awaken faith. God even invites Ahaz to ask for a sign—any sign—to prove that God will protect Judah.

Ahaz responds with religious words but closes his heart. When God invites Ahaz to ask for a sign, Ahaz refuses.

He says, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” It sounds faithful. It sounds respectful. But Isaiah sees through it. Ahaz is not being humble. Ahaz has already made a decision—to trust political alliances instead of God. A sign would mean trusting God. A sign would require obedience.

So God gives the sign anyway: “The young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” This sign is meant to call Ahaz back to trust—to remind Ahaz that God is present, even when the future is frightening. But Ahaz does not change course.

Ahaz teaches us a hard truth: it is possible to use religious language and still resist God. It is possible to hear “God is with us” and still rely only on ourselves. Think about our daily lives. We often use faithful words, but we choose temporary expedients to defend ourselves in a crisis: “God loves me anyway, even if I use worldly methods to get rid of my current problem.”

At the same time, in Matthew 1, Joseph faces a very different crisis. It is not political. It is personal. Mary, the woman Joseph is engaged to, is pregnant—and Joseph knows the child is not his. His plans for a simple, faithful life fall apart. He faces shame, confusion, and heartbreak.

And into that moment, God speaks again—this time through a dream. Joseph is given direction. And Joseph is given a sign: this child will be called Immanuel—God with us.

Joseph—Fear Met with Trust: Joseph’s story begins quietly, with pain. Matthew calls Joseph a “righteous” person. Joseph plans to end the engagement quietly—to protect Mary from shame and to protect what remains of her dignity. This may be a faithful decision.

Then God speaks. The angel says, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” Joseph is asked to do something costly: to accept misunderstanding, to risk reputation, to step into a future that makes no sense.

And Joseph is given the same promise Ahaz received: this child is Immanuel—God with us. Joseph’s response is simple and powerful: “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel commanded.” No arguments. No speeches. Just obedience.

Joseph shows us this truth: faith does not mean we are not afraid. Faith means we choose to trust because God is with us.

Different situations. Same promise. God meets fear with presence. Two Responses, One Promise. Both Ahaz and Joseph hear the promise of Immanuel, but they respond differently. Ahaz hears the promise as information. Joseph receives it as transformation.

Ahaz clings to control. Joseph lets go of control. Ahaz protects power. Joseph risks reputation. Ahaz keeps God at a distance. Joseph welcomes God into everyday life.

And here is the heart of the story: God’s presence does not force faith. God’s presence invites a response. It’s our choice but choices always carry consequences.

God Is With Us—Still: The name Immanuel is not only about the past. It is a declaration of who God is—now. God does not remain far away. God enters fear, uncertainty, and broken plans.

When we worry about the future, God is with us. When obedience costs us comfort, God is with us. When we do not understand what God is doing, God is still with us. The question is not whether God is present. The question is how we respond.

Will we respond like Ahaz—polite, religious, but resistant? Or like Joseph—uncertain, but obedient?

A Call to Trust: The title of this sermon is not a suggestion. It is a proclamation: God is with us. Because God is with us, we can trust more than our fear. We can obey even when the path is unclear. We can believe that God’s promises are larger than our circumstances. Joseph reminds us that God often works through ordinary people who simply say yes. Isaiah reminds us that God keeps promises even when we struggle to believe them.

Conclusion: As Christmas draws near, we celebrate not a distant God, but a God who enters human weakness. Immanuel. God with us. May we, like Joseph, rise from fear and trust God’s promise. May we carry Christ into a waiting world. And may the light of Immanuel shine in every dark place. May it be so for you and for me. Amen.