Thursday, February 11th, ‘10

Thursday, February 11^th, ‘10

THE OMNIPOTENCE OF ASKING

“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!” (Isaiah 7:11,12 NKJV)

Pastor Keith Moore opened my eyes on these verses on a recent Sunday morning. He called Ahaz’s answer false humility and in context he was correct. Jehovah offers, ask whatever you will, in depth or height, which means you can’t ask too little or too much. But Ahaz responds as most people, “Oh no, far be it from me that I would ask, unworthy worm that I am”. How can being satisfied with things as they are be considered a virtue when it denies God the opportunity to reveal His omnipotence? In verse 11 God demands, “Ask me” and in verse 12 the king answers, “I will not ask”. That was not a trick question. The right answer was not, “I will not ask”. Since Ahaz didn’t ask for a sign the Lord said He would grant a miracle sign anyway – “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son…” (vs 14), speaking of the miracle of all miracles, the virgin birth.

Is God blessed by our humble display? Does not asking make Him proud of us because we practice contentment and are without covetousness? Verse 13 says, “Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?” God is not wearied by the asking that tests His omnipotence but He is wearied by people who feel no need to ask. Ye have not because you ask not. Not asking indicates unbelief. We know that “without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb 11:6). Mike Murdock comments that God’s greatest pleasure is to be believed and His worst displeasure is to be doubted. Ahaz’s answer sounds all religious but it is pretentious, self-righteous and negating to the purposes of God.

When a hostess asks, “Is there anything I can do for you?” in my modest, unassertive nature I most always decline because I never want to intrude on another’s time or convenience. But that may be what the doorman, bellhop, usher or wait-staff is paid to do. Others simply want to serve. Though we are a trillion times-over unequals with God yet He bids us stand shoulder to shoulder with Him. He asks certain things of us. He doesn’t mind reciprocal favors. “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). With such an invitation before the divine Bench how can we seal our lips and stand mute? Others go ahead and ask. They ask of the depth below and height above and very often receive the very things so petitioned. The rest of us stand humble, airing contentment, wearing our happy face, but doing without. That need not be. God isn’t just asking when He says, Ask!”