December 16th Reflection - The Sign - by Bill Lynch

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.

Reflection - The Sign
Assyria is about to invade Israel and take over. But Israel has a plan. A plan to unite forces with Syria and to unite the neighbor countries to oppose this invasion from Assyria. So Israel appeals to the king of Judah, Ahaz for support.

This passage is a call to faith in God. Judah is under God but the world around seems to be falling to the power of man and the utilities of war. The world around is under the power of man. Will Judah and Ahaz place faith in God or will Ahaz place his faith in the will and power of man? Isaiah offers a sign from God. A sign of faith. A sign from God that stretches as far as possible, from heaven to hell.

Ahaz refuses to entertain even such a great sign from God for faith. So we contrast the power of man with the power of God. Ahaz had made up his mind. Not even a sign from God would change Ahaz's allegiance to the power of man. Ahaz had chosen friendship with the enemy rather that faith in God to save him and the people of Judah from Assyria.

But God has a sign. A sign that far outreaches any comprehension of this time by Ahaz. A sign of a love that surpasses that current time in history to and through all time. A sign of a Savior. A sign of one who comes from the contrast of curds and honey to a deserted land... to death and salvation for all the people. Yes, God gives us a sign even in the midst of sin that is to overtake us and occupy us and remove us from God's presence. God gives a sign to all of Judah at the time, to all of the world, and through time to you and to me.

Isaiah tells of the core reason to place faith in God rather than faith in the power and devices of man. God gives us the reason for faith and provides us with the faith to believe and receive the most precious gift of all space and time. God gives us a Savior and names that Savior Immanuel. God is with us! Have faith! God is with us!

Ahaz... have faith... God is with us... Bill... have faith... God is with us... all people... have faith... God is with us. God is with us through the battles, through the occupation, through the illness, through the hatred and sin and death. God is with us and will save us. Only God can save us. Only God. Not our weapons of war, not our power and strength, but only the love and grace of God through the Savior Jesus can you be saved! God is with us. God is with you.

And God's gift of salvation comes to us through the unexpected gift of faith. Not through the power and unity of the forces of men, but through the quiet love of a child born to humble means in a manager. God is with us! Don't miss it! God is with us! Have faith... believe! God is with us. The choice to believe is yours. Will you act like Ahaz, or see the sign of God. Once again, I say... receive the faith... believe! God is with us!

Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see. Open my heart to faith. Open my life to trust in you and you alone. For God is with us and God is with me. You sent your Son, Jesus, into this world in such a radical departure from how we would expect a Savior to arrive. But you made it stick! Jesus upon the cross. Jesus in the wooden manger. Jesus working the wood and life of all people to bring new life to all creation. A new and awesome tree of life. You provide the faith and I believe! Send me out into this world of sin and death to witness to the life and salvation that you gave through Jesus. Life that brings eternal life and love to all your people... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen