Embracing God’s Love

Scripture — Isaiah 7:10-16 (NRSV)

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? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,** **for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.”

Devotion

My parents worked tirelessly to put food on the table and pave the way for my brothers and me to have a comfortable and successful life. They paid for music lessons, ballet, martial arts, computer programs, you name it. Whatever we needed, they provided so that we could have a shot at a future far away from the woes of our environment.

As a result, I never asked for much. If there was an emerging fashion trend at school, I avoided it. If my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I’d request a new pajama set instead of the latest electronic device. In my mind, my parents had already done enough – more than enough, so I counted myself blessed and adopted a pervasive spirit of gratitude. Even as an adult at work, I couldn’t tell you the last time I asked for a promotion or requested a raise.

Much like Ahaz in our text, I didn’t want to test my parents or managers by asking them to fulfill my desires. I didn’t want to risk seeming ungrateful or putting them in a financial spiral by asking for what I wanted. However, what I didn’t know was that my incessant humility drove the people who cared for me up the wall. After several back-and-forths with my parents and workplace leaders, they often admitted that they wished I would just speak up and express my wants. My parents explained that they relished the opportunity to do things for us kids and that they worked hard, not out of obligation, but from a sense of pride and purpose. My managers encouraged me to push the limits and negotiate, understanding that I was deserving of compensation and blessings. The people who loved and cared for me instructed me to receive that love freely.

God instructs us to do the same.

Though we’re often too afraid to ask, God, our Father, loves us unconditionally, desires to bless us, and teaches us to ask for what we want. When we fail to do so, as Ahaz does in our text, God takes it as a sign of disrespect, a lack of faith, and a test of his patience.

Still, God blesses us anyway – with God’s love, with God’s presence, and with the desires of our hearts. In this passage, we find a profound example of God’s unwavering love and faithfulness, even in moments of doubt and fear. Ahaz, the king of Judah, faces the threat of two opposing kingdoms, but instead of trusting in God’s love, he hesitates to ask God for help. In response, God still extends grace to Ahaz, offering a sign of hope and reassurance despite Ahaz’s reluctance. God not only promises Ahaz victory, but also prophesies God’s enduring presence through the coming of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

God’s love and presence are still alive with us today. Therefore, God invites us to come as we are, even at work: openly expressing our needs, desires, and even our fears. When we hesitate to ask God for what we need, we inadvertently limit our experience of God’s grace and provision. God’s heart is full of love and generosity, and God delights in meeting our needs in ways that exceed our expectations. Just as God provided a sign for Ahaz, God is ready to give us signs of love and reassurance in our lives and workplaces as well.

So, this Advent, in our moments of doubt or fear, let us remember the depth of God’s love and faithfulness through Jesus Christ. The name “Immanuel,” which means “God with us,” reminds us that we are never alone in our struggles. God is always present, guiding, comforting, and providing for us. This means that we can boldly ask for God’s help, trusting that God hears us and is always willing to respond with open arms.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God Judges Exploitation and Marginalization (Isaiah 3ff.).