A Grinch to Top all Grinches

© 2017 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

There once was a Grinch named Ahaz, king of Judah.  As a Grinch, he didn’t love God.  He didn’t love people.  He loved only himself.  His life was characterized by evil.  He even sacrificed his own son as a burnt offering to a false god.

“Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.  But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.” (2 Kings 16:2‑3)

The kings of Syria and Israel were threatening Judah, the tribe through which God had chosen to send His Messiah.  Though Ahaz was wicked, God sent the prophet Isaiah to him with good news that his enemies would fail.  He then told Ahaz to ask for a sign which would prove the validity of Isaiah’s prophecy.  But, since he was a Grinch, Ahaz refused to obey and ask for that sign.  So, God chose the sign.  Though Grinch Ahaz never got to see its fulfillment, it was, in fact, fulfilled over five hundred years later.  Even today, many still celebrate its fulfillment.  It foretold the virgin birth of Christ who would bring the joy of salvation to the world!

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. …” (Isaiah 7:14)

“Immanuel” means “God with us.”  Virgin born Jesus would be God, the Son, in the flesh!  This wonderful news seemed lost on Grinch Ahaz.  He continued to do evil.  He had no desire to be freed from being a Grinch.  However, from that time forward, those desiring salvation from sin yearned for the fulfillment of this wonderful prophesy.  Today there are still some whose hearts thrill at the fulfilled promise of our virgin born Savior.

Jesus Christ, the Lord, was born and placed in a manger.  He grew up and offered His life as the sacrificial payment for sin.  He rose from the dead.  All who trust Him are saved!

Are you trusting Him, or are you like Grinch Ahaz?

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