Recognizing a Special Gift by Amy Duncan
Later, the LORD sent this message to King Ahaz: “Ask the LORD your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want — as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.” But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the LORD like that.” Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the LORD himself will give you a sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means “God is with us”).
(Isaiah 7:10-14)
I remember a Christmas banquet held at Second when I was perhaps ten or eleven years old. Various women in the church were each assigned to decorate a table in the Social Room. Lutie Chiles, one of the most remarkable women I ever knew and a true lover of all children, created a beautiful tablescape of delicate wooden decorations she had purchased in Germany. The event was quite fancy and elaborate, and we actually had assigned seats. Miss Chiles (as I always called her, even into adulthood) was surprised to discover that she had been given a table of all children. Unfortunately, throughout the course of the evening, many of her special ornaments and decorations were damaged by the curious little fingers of her dinner guests. I remember being dismayed, but with a sweet smile she said, “It’s alright. I’m glad the children had a beautiful table, and I hope they enjoyed the evening.” This is who she was. She loved unconditionally and made each person in her presence feel very special.
In today’s passage, King Ahaz is a bit like the children at that beautiful Christmas table, surrounded by gifts and love he does not recognize. However, his negative response is born out of disbelief and lack of trust, not the sweet innocence of children. Ahaz has just been assured by the prophet Isaiah that the invasions of King Pekah and King Rezin will not be successful and that Judah will prevail. Isaiah invites him to ask God for a sign, but he refuses, claiming that he doesn’t want to test Jehovah God, but in fact he didn’t trust or believe Jehovah God and had secretly aligned with the Assyrian king. Exasperated, Isaiah says that even though Ahaz doesn’t deserve it, God will give him a sign anyway. He will send Immanuel—God with us. This was a gift King Ahaz certainly did not earn or deserve. Actually, none of us deserves this precious gift.
Wouldn’t Isaiah be exasperated with us still today? I can imagine his saying, “Haven’t you people learned to trust God? Why do you look for comfort or answers or guidance or salvation everywhere but with God? Have you not figured out that God loves you unconditionally? Have you not learned that God’s gift of Immanuel is all you need?”
The children at Miss Chiles’s table didn’t really appreciate her precious decorations, nor did they really “deserve” such special treatment, but she loved them anyway. This memory has stayed with me all these years, and it serves as a reminder at this season that God loves us and sends his gift of salvation regardless of our worthiness.
Amy Duncan