Isaiah 7:11–12: “‘Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.’ But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!'”

August 1st, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

God made an amazing offer through Isaiah to the wayward King Ahaz. He was basically saying, “Name it Ahaz! Anything you need to help you believe.” Ahaz’s response may seem polite at first reading, but when read carefully, we find that it is really an obstinate, headstrong refusal to make any agreement with God.

This chapter is a sharp, abrupt contrast between the disobedience of Ahaz, as he refused to submit to God, and the quick obedience of Isaiah in the preceding chapter. When the Lord called to Isaiah, he was instantly compliant saying, “Here am I! Send me” (Isa. 6:8). But King Ahaz was stubborn and refused to even respond to God’s offer. The point is that our heavenly Father is so gracious that He was willing to be tested by an unbelieving king so He could reveal Himself to the king personally. God seeks a personal, intimate relationship with each of us in His creation. King Ahaz’s most famous ancestor, King David, wrote this about knowing God: “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; / Blessed is the man that trusts in Him!” (Ps. 34:8). J.I. Packer in his book, Knowing God, said it this way:

When the New Testament tells us that Jesus is risen, one of the things it means is that the victim of Calvary is now, so to speak, loose and at large, so that any man, any where, can enjoy the same kind of relationship with Him as the disciples had in the days of His flesh.

God invites each of us into an ever-growing, closer personal relationship with Him. We need only to humbly submit to His gracious offer through David: “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good,” and ask Him to show Himself to us in a personal way that we will understand.

“LORD, thank You that You still seek to save those who are lost. We ask You to please use us today to lead someone to Your throne of grace.”