God With Us (A Christmas Devotional)
“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:22-23 Johanna Ruth Dobschiner (called Hansie by her family and friends) was a Jewish girl in her teens living in Amsterdam during World War II. As Jews, she and her family suffered greatly under the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Hansie’s brothers had been taken away, never to return. So when Hansie contracted scarlet fever, she and her parents rejoiced. A “Danger–Infectious Disease” notice was put up on the door, and they were safe! While lying in bed as the family began their Hanukkah festivities, Hansie began to think deeply about God for the first time. As an Orthodox Jewish family, they faithfully attended the synagogue and followed the traditions. But was God a part of their dail...
