Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”
Then He said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:10-14
How do you feel when you go to great lengths to show love or kindness to someone, and they refuse it? God is giving King Ahaz a personal invitation to ask for a miracle – any miracle. The whole point is so that Ahaz would put his trust in God.
The background here is that Ahaz is a wicked king. Faced with tremendous political and military pressure, Ahaz doesn’t turn to the one true God, but to many different gods. So God intervenes with a gracious offer to deliver. But Ahaz refuses. He won’t ask for a sign, because he doesn’t want to trust in God.
This tries the patience of God, naturally. And yet not even this stops the grace and love of God. Because the sign still comes; a miraculous birth that signifies God is with us!
A prayer: Father, You know all of my sin, and nothing about me is hidden from You. Yet, You have shown me grace and rescued me for salvation through Jesus Christ! I am amazed at what You have done! Thank You! I want to live today in close fellowship with You!