Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 God with us: assurance beyond fear

Bible Reading: :: Isaiah 7:10-17

Key verse:  

Bible Verse:: But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” 14. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.

DEVOTION

The text is best understood when we study the preceding chapters and books of the Bible as well as the historical and political circumstances of those times. The context of the text, though difficult, is still relevant in our challenging, turbulent, and uncertainty-filled lives. Isaiah offers King Ahaz the opportunity to ask for a sign, which the King refuses stating he does not want to test God. However, one may also consider whether Ahaz’s refusal to ask for a sign is tied to his decision to ask the King of Assyria for protection (2 Kings 16:7). Is this a moment in which King Ahaz is trusting in the “seen versus the unseen.” Ahaz may prefer to count on what he sees as a sure thing vs trusting that God will deliver. Choosing to trust in the unseen requires courage and vulnerability. Trusting in an unseen God can be challenging, especially in a world that prioritizes tangible realities. It requires giving up control and complete surrender in dire circumstances. Was Ahaz putting his trust in the King of Assyria more than God, a grave and foolish mistake?  A sign is offered to Ahaz that can come across as confusing. Through the sign, a few promises and threats are issued. The sign of the birth of Immanuel “God with us” foreshadows the birth of Jesus Christ “savior.” Like King Ahaz we also falter in our faith, and our lives are filled with good and bad experiences. Our prayer should be to be thankful for good times, and to ask for strength and grace to pass through difficult times. Immanuel gives us assurance that God is with us in challenging, turbulent, and uncertain times.

PRAYER

Lord, teach us to be thankful for good times, and to ask for strength and grace to pass through difficult times.

Thought for the DAY

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Dennis Cherian
MarThoma Church of Greater Washington, Maryland

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