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.
Isaiah 7:14
This promise is made to King Ahaz after he refuses God’s command to
ask for a sign – “I will not put the Lord to the test.” Ahaz does not refuse
out of piety or belief but rather out of fear, fear of the war raging around
him and fear of the rulers of the other nations wanting him to join their
cause. Ahaz was offered the opportunity to be given any sign he wanted
from God (think of Moses and the plagues on Egypt). But he refused, too
afraid. God was rejected by those in power. So God did what God always
does – God shows up, this time in the midst of the lowest. A pregnant girl
of no name. Immanuel – God with Us.
As we wait for Immanuel in this season of Advent, how have we denied
God? And how has God shown up anyway? God is in places big and small,
miracles surround us daily. We simply need to open our eyes to see and
our ears to hear.
Living God, open our eyes and ears to your unwavering presence.
The Rev. Karynjean Dickhoff is Chaplain at Liberty Hospice, a Liberty
life service.
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