Reflection on Isaiah 7:10-16

Isaiah 7:10-16 (NRSVue)

¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, ¹¹ “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” ¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” ¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. ¹⁶ 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.”

Reflection

I cannot tell you the number of times that I would have appreciated a sign from God.  “Lord, if I am doing what you want in this situation, please let me know.  Give me a sign, any sign!”

The only thing about signs is that God tends to give signs to those who do not ask.  God gives Noah the sign of the rainbow as a promise that God will never destroy all humankind through a flood again.  Noah did not ask for a sign.  The Lord randomly shows up in the burning bush, giving Moses a sign that God is with him and that God will use him for good.  Moses did not ask for a sign.  And of course there are those shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  But we will get back to them in a bit. 

I just want to point out that, with exception to just a handful of instances, God does give signs to people, but mostly only to those who do not ask.

I guess that explains why my many requests for a sign are met with complete and utter silence.  “If you are there, God, send me a shooting star!”  I look up and see no star.  “I need to know which way to go in this terrible situation, Lord.  Send an angel to talk to me and tell me the way to go.”  I look around and see no angel.  God does not tend to listen to demands.  God does not make a habit of granting signs whenever we request.  God tends to want us to trust rather than demand.

But that does not mean that God is against sending signs.  In fact, in Isaiah we read that God gives King Ahaz a sign when he faced the looming threat of enemies aligning against him and the southern kingdom of Judah.  God does this even though King Ahaz explicitly told the Lord that he did not want a sign.  The Bible tells the story this way, “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” (Isaiah 7:10-12). 

This biblical warning of not putting the Lord to the test comes right from Deuteronomy 6:16 where it says exactly that: “Do not test the Lord your God.”  And Jesus quotes it when refusing Satan’s request that he jump from the top of the temple and force God to rescue him.  We do not request signs, but God does provide us with signs.

King Ahaz does not request a sign, but he needs one.  Therefore, God provides one.  “Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel…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” (Isaiah 7:14 and 16).

God points to a nearby woman, maybe his own wife, and promises that he does not need to worry about these enemies.  God is with him.  That is what “Immanuel” means after.  God will be with him and will take care of him and the entire nation.  “Just watch,” God seems to be saying.  “When the child gets to be around age seven, you will see that you have nothing to worry about.  I am with you.  Peace will come.”  Watching the child grow is a sign that is intended to prove that God is with him and is intended to bring him peace.

King Ahaz ultimately does not trust God’s promise and sign, but that is on him.  I just want you to know that God does provide signs to us, it is just at times when God thinks we need a sign, and not when we think we need one to pop up in front of us from out of nowhere.

Speaking of a sign that comes from out of nowhere, there once were some shepherds living out a field, watching their sheep at night, when an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:9-12).

Once again, it is a child who is the sign of God being with us.  Once again, it is a sign that is given and not asked for.  Once again, it is a promise that God thinks both the shepherds and the world needs.

As you gaze at the angel on the Christmas tree as Christmas Eve approaches, remember that God does give signs.  God does desire to be with us.  God does come to save us through the birth of a child.  God does give us signs as a gift of unwarranted love.  It is up to us to open our eyes.