By Jakob Topper, Senior Pastor at North Haven Church, Norman, Okla.
“God-with-us does not erase the hard choices before us—it reshapes them, grounding us in a hope that no empire can
overthrow.”
King Ahaz of Judah faced a political storm. The Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Aram had joined forces to resist the expanding Assyrian Empire. They demanded that Ahaz join their coalition. When he refused, they threatened to depose him and put a puppet king on Judah’s throne. And behind them loomed Assyria—vast, violent, unstoppable.
To Ahaz, there seemed no good choices: join a desperate coalition he didn’t believe in or surrender to Assyria’s domination. When the prophet Isaiah urged him to ask God for a sign, Ahaz refused. His words sounded devout: “I will not put the Lord to the test.” But his piety was a mask for his fear. Ahaz had already chosen to send tribute to Assyria and submit Judah to its power (2 Kings 16).
God gave him a sign anyway: “The young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” Not an army. Not a throne. A child named Immanuel—God with us. A promise that God’s presence would outlast every empire.
We, too, live in times when political systems demand allegiance, when authoritarians promise safety through domination, and when fear tempts us to bow to power. Yet Advent reminds us that Immanuel does not arrive cloaked in political might, but in weakness, risk and solidarity. God-with-us does not erase the hard choices before us—it reshapes them, grounding us in a hope no empire can overthrow.
Reflect
Where are you tempted to trust in power for safety instead of resting in God’s presence?
How does the promise of Immanuel invite you to face your own political moment with courage and hope?
Making Room is a daily devotional through Christmas from the CBF family, with two guides—one for adults and one for children and families—featuring reflections and simple activities for home, Sunday school or worship. Find the Making Room Advent resource here.