ACCEPT GOD’S GIFTS WITH GRATITUDE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?”

Isaiah 7:10-13

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Let me ask you a question. If God were to offer you something, would you accept it?

The answer is a no brainer, right? You would receive His offer and do it with gratitude. For if God wants to give us something, He doesn’t expect a rejection and certainly He should never get one.

I said He SHOULD never get one. As we will see today, there are people in the world foolish enough to turn down an offer from God and Exhibit A is Ahaz and the people of Judah.

You’ll recall from yesterday’s devotion that Ahaz, the king of Judah, and his fellow Judeans had been under siege from the Arameans and the northern kingdom of Israel. Despite the attempts of the attacking forces, they couldn’t overthrow the holy city of Jerusalem but this didn’t stop the Judeans from being captivated by their fear, a fear that stole away their faith and led them to forget that God was in control.

You would think that the Judeans would have rekindled their faith in God after He told them they had nothing to fear because those besieging the city would not accomplish what they sought to do. You would think that they would reestablish their trust in the God who had shown over and over again that He was with them and for them. You would think they would thankfully take any blessing He would propose without hesitation.

Of course, you would think that the Israelites would never choose to disrespect God and worship false gods and idols over and over and over again, daring God to do something about it, but they did and as we have seen through the opening chapters of Isaiah, God was fed up and was sending a judgment that would not just last for a season but rather for a lifetime because the 70 years of exile prescribed by God as punishment would be a lifetime for the generation taken away to Babylon. Many taken away would never see the Promised Land again.

Today’s verses, of course, cover a time before that judgment but in them we find just one other thing done by the Israelites that would get under the skin of God. Look again at this word of God:

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?” Isaiah 7:10-13

The Lord was speaking to Ahaz. Not some messenger. Not some prophet. Not an angel. No, it was God Himself speaking and asking Ahaz for a sign. Note here that God was not really giving Ahaz an option. The Lord didn’t say, “If you desire, ask me for a sign” or “If you’re interested in seeing a sign, just ask Me” or “Hey Ahaz! Want me to show you a sign?” No, Ahaz was told to ask for a sign.

Friends, wouldn’t you agree with me that if God tells us to do something, we are to do it with no questions asked?

There’s no question that the answer is a resounding “Yes!” but apparently Ahaz didn’t get the memo because as we read his reply to God, we know he clearly didn’t understand that when God commands, man is to obey, no matter their status, king or otherwise. We know this because Ahaz flat out disobeyed God’s order and boldly declared that he would not ask for sign, justifying his decision by suggesting that he would be testing God by asking.

Question: Would God ever set us up for failure?

I think you would agree He wouldn’t. He sets us up to succeed in carrying out His will to further His purposes. Period. And so, if God was telling Ahaz to ask for a sign, obeying that command would not be disrespecting God in any way for that would be a sin and God would never command us to sin. It simply would (and will) never happen. This is what makes Ahaz’s response utter nonsense and foolishness.

Isaiah certainly saw it that way because before God rebuked Ahaz, he did so asking not just Ahaz but all of Judah (referred to as the house of David), “Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?” Indeed, the behavioral pattern of the Israelites would test the patience of anyone who carried an expectation of righteous behavior from a people who were God’s chosen ones, especially God Himself. And trust me when I say, the patience of God continues to be trusted today for believers, as we have studied prior, are repeating the mistakes of the past.

How long will it take until we get it? How long until we figure out that God deserves our unreserved and unquestionable honor, glory, faith, and trust? How long will we go on disrespecting and disregarding Him?

The message from the scriptures for us today is crystal clear. When God offers to do something for us, whether it is to offer a sign or anything else, the only right response is “Yes, Lord”, delivered with the fullest measure of thanksgiving and gratitude. He deserves nothing less.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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