Christmas Eve: Old Testament, Isaiah 7:10-14              

Isaiah 7:10-14

Isaiah is so intertwined with Jesus. The marvelous words given to Isaiah some seven centuries before the first advent of the Savior are to be savored. King Ahaz is commanded by the LORD to ask for a sign. Now, under normal circumstances I would stand with Ahaz in hesitating to put God to the test. But this is not a normal circumstance. God has given the direction to ask. Ask away, Ahaz! But in a bit of false humility perhaps Ahaz resists.

God steps in. Isaiah reports, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign” (7:14a). God as in all things will have his way here. And his way is to make known the identity of the Savior-King he is sending to mankind … for mankind. In another place Isaiah cries, “Behold your God!” (40:9b). Behold indeed. God didn’t want Ahaz to miss Him. Nor does He want us to.

Read the sign. Behold your God!  Live.

Blessed Advent!