By Rev. Joanne Davies
God is with us. We are called to transform and be transformed. To know our sins and accept forgiveness, to obey with love and to love our neighbour. God is with us. God knows belief is hard. And finds ways to talk to us. Nudging us to listen. The coming of Christmas, of Jesus’ birth is an extremely big nudge – to us now and in the past.
Joseph is of the House of David.
King Ahaz is his ancestor.
Just two people, but important to the unfolding of life with God. God with us.
God keeps talking to us humans … for God has fully embodied the God self in all of creation. God expects us to find ourselves beloved and loving, in our lives with each other. God is waiting for our listening and obedience. God does not leave.
Ahaz king in Judah, has a responsibility to seek the welfare of his people. There are many external threats to his kingdom.
God promised to the house of David an eternal dynasty, so long as his descendants hold fast to the covenant and to God’s teaching. Military and diplomatic resolutions do not always accord with covenant teaching.
Ahaz faces a threat. Two neighbours to the north, Israel, with its capital in Samaria, and Syria, with its capital in Damascus, are forming a coalition. Their kings have surrendered tribute, dignity, and human life. They press Ahaz to join them and lend Judah’s armies to their rebellion against Assyria.
The prophet Isaiah shows Ahaz the future. These two kings, says Isaiah, are smouldering stumps. God has already decreed against their plan. If you want to see your kingdom stand, if you crave a descendant on the throne of Judah – God says – believe.
God keeps talking and giving signs. The summons to faith is hard to answer, and God knows that if God stops talking, Judah does not have a chance. The power of God would be too incredible to believe if there were not signs of it everywhere.
Ask me for a sign, says God. Ask me anything. What can you imagine? What can you not imagine? I will show it to you.
I can save. Believe it. I know that you need a sign. I am ready to help you believe. Ask me for a sign.
No, says Ahaz, “I will not ask. I will not test the Lord”
This refusal sounds righteous. Moses had commanded Israel, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested.
But Ahaz needs God’s help to believe. Isaiah accuses the house of David of being tiring and trying to life and to God. So much has been entrusted to them, and they are using it up. Isaiah confronts Ahaz for his pretence of faith and calls him out of his unbelief.
In truth, Ahaz already has a plan and does not want to believe. It is easier to sell himself to Assyria than wait for salvation from God.
God stays. More talk.
Look, says Isaiah. “Here: the young woman is pregnant, and she is giving birth to a son. And she will call his name ‘God is with us’” Stop looking away from the miracle. She is in pain and labouring in faith to bring forth life. In a moment you will hear an infant cry. The woman will feel a flood of fierce love that binds her to this child as his guardian and protector forever. Listen closely when she speaks his name and you will hear her name the ground of all life and hope: God is with us. God is immersed in creation and life’s body and blood. Ahaz is asked to pay attention and to respond, to bring himself, his family, and his kingdom to live God’s reign.
Today we meet two men, both of the House of David, both struggling in challenging times and both might come to a decision without God. And God responds by a nudging ever presence. It is clear we are to listen and discern God’s desire. With a truth and love that says we are not to be passive recipients but must also lifft up our hearts to God’s love. We are to obey God, but our obedience is to come from a place of humility and love. We lift up our hearts in obedience to love and from love. (spoiler, Ahaz does not manage this).
Our readings speak of a family’s generational story with God. Their stumbling, fragility, sin, hope, awe, reverence, doubt give us a vision of love’s journey we can relate to. Though our own voices might reflect the psalmist cry, Restore us oh God, … David’s family story shows us how God responds to our yearning, our reaching out for a sign to follow…. Restoration will come. With our own love deep inside God, and God deep inside our love.
Today we hear how Joseph changed his mind listening to God. How he learns he must respond to God’s will, God’s promise, and God’s Love. He does not at first reach for God. He makes the decision to quietly dismiss the pregnant Mary, to protect her but also, certainly, to protect his own reputation. However, God continues to talk. Sending an Angel – an annunciation. An audacious, startling illumination of God in the beating heart of life is revealed in Joseph’s dream. This baby will be Love, God incarnate – and Joseph is to name him. And to love him. Both these actions will bring the baby into the house of David. A recognizable signpost of our faith story.
Unlike Ahaz, Joseph responded with obedience and love and unconditional protective love for Mary and Jesus.
How do we respond?
Imagine Joseph waking up from his dream… imagine walking around a room with him as he wonders and discerns.
Love will come down. I pray I do not look away from the miracle.