Advent

December 16, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Political game playing did not start in the twenty-first century or the first century, as King Ahaz is playing a sly game in the above scripture around 800 BCE. Previous kings, David for one, routinely asked God for a sign to indicate appropriate acts by the King. Ahaz coyly states that he will not put the Lord to the test. Raising Isaiah’s ire, Isaiah responds that whether Ahaz asks for a sign or not, he is going to get one. The sign is that a young woman will bear a son and name him Immanuel which means God with us.

How often do we elect not to consult God on our plans and responses? I wonder if we ignore that step because we may already know the answer and it is not one, we want to hear much less actualize.

God is always with us and will always love us. God wants the very best for us sometimes when we do not want the best for ourselves. We are not puppets. God gives us freewill as God gives all God’s children. Sometimes we get caught in things that result from cross purposes of those children. While the results may not be what we want, God will guide us in new paths that will surprise us with joy and satisfaction if we accept it.

Prayer: Lord, soothe our souls so that we do not withdraw from communing with you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.