(Section 2 His Will)
II. THE NATURE OF GOD'S GUIDANCE
A yieldedness to the will of God is not demonstrated by some one particular issue: it is rather having taken the will of God as the rule of one's life. To be in the will of God is simply being willing to do His will without reference to any particular thing He may choose. It is electing his will to be final, even before we know what He may wish us to do.
It is therefore not a question of being willing to do some one thing; it is a question of being willing to do anything, when, where and how is may seem best in His heart of love. It is taking the normal and natural position of child-like trust which has already consented to the wish of the Father even before anything of the outworking of His wish is revealed. (pg 41)
--Lewis Sperry Chafer
A. PRINCIPLES OF GUIDANCE
One of the unchanging and foundational principles is that our Guide will never depart
from the precepts of the Word of God.
Where Scripture speaks clearly, no further guidance need be sought.
1. In the whole of the Bible we are given commands and promises, prohibitions and
warnings appropriate to any situation in which we find ourselves. Read the Word.
2. It is in the place of prayer that God will impart His guidance to us. Pray without ceasing.
3. It was while the church leaders at Antioch were praying and fasting that the Holy Spirit
communicated His will to them. Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
4. It is in submissive, expectant prayer that our heavenly Guide imparts wisdom and
insight into the problems we face. When facing major decisions, it is obvious wisdom to spend concentrated time in prayer.
5. He guides us through the advice of wise and spiritually experienced friends.
Dialogue stimulates thought and broadens vision.Proverbs 19:20 “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”
6. Sometimes He guides by creating desires in our hearts that accord with His
sovereign purpose. Phil. 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
We should carefully scrutinize our desires.
7. He guides us by exercising an inward constraint or restraint.
8. He guides through divinely imparted gifts and abilities, both natural and spiritual.
Our leading will generally accord with our gifts, but there are exceptions.
9. He guides us through our minds. *We should be wary of any guidance that belittles
or overestimates the use of the intellect.
10. He guides through the revelation of Christ in His life and death. Jesus lived according
to universal principles, so that the spirit of those principles can be lived out anywhere.
God leads, but He does not override the will of man.
B. PUTTING OUT A FLEECE --- GIDEON & GOD
A remarkable incident in the life of Gideon has given rise to a contemporary practice for seeking guidance. It has come to be known as "putting out a fleece." Because of its prevalence, a careful study of its validity is warranted. (pg 50) Judges 6
When all is taken into account, wasn’t Gideon’s experience God’s compassionate response
to an unfounded doubt, rather than a response to Gideon’s faith? (pg 52)
In considering the validity of adopting this method of seeking guidance, the following
factors should be taken into account:
1. There is no New Testament parallel of Gideon's fleece test.
(A secular parallel in our day would be tossing a coin a second time because
it did not turn up the way we wanted the first time.)
2. In reality, Gideon was not seeking guidance in the strict sense. He already knew
what God's will was. When God gives a command, no further guidance is necessary.
3. Fleece-setting does not impart final assurance and certainty. If the Word of God
is not enough for you, fleeces will also leave you in doubt.
4. Some consider a spectacular response to setting a fleece an evidence of superior
spirituality. But is it not rather a gracious concession to feeble faith?
C. BALAK & BALAAM --- Negative light on Guidance. (pg 52)
1. Order of Events
a. Balak heard of victory or Israel over the Amorites. Numbers 21:25-26
b. Balak had heard of the fame of the prophet Balaam, so in superstitious fear
he summoned him to put a curse on the Israelites and thus secure their defeat.
Numbers 22: 5-6
c. Princes meet with Balaam and present their request. Numbers 22:7
d. Balaam lodges the princes and enquires of God.
e. God's answer: "thou shalt not" Numbers 22:12
f. Balaam sends the men away and will not go with them.
g. More honorable princes repeat the request with a larger bounty. 22: 15-17
h. Balaam says, "Tarry and I will pray again."
i. God says, "Go." There is a limit to the divine patience with one who tries to get the best of both worlds. (pg 55)
j. God is angered and sends an angel to destroy Balaam.
k. Balaam repents and says, "I will get me back again." v34
l. Balaam is instructed to go and to speak only the word of the Lord.
m. Balaam blesses Israel and desires a righteous death. Num 23:8-10
n. Balaam blesses Israel again and again.
o. Balaam was sent home by the angry Balak. However, it appears that Balaam did give evil counsel to Balak, pointing out how he could lead Israel into sexual immorality and idolatry, thus bringing about their downfall. This was perhaps a plan sent by Balaam back to Balak as Balaam continually dwelt on the lost rewards. His teaching involved the most contemptible action ever conceived in an unregenerate heart. Corrupt a people you cannot curse and God will have to chasten them.
Numbers 31:16 “Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of
Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was
a plague among the congregation of the LORD.”
II Peter 2:15 “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”
Revelations 2:14 “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them
that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balack to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”
p. Judgment falls on Israelites who participated in sins. Numbers 25
q. Judgment falls on Midian. Numbers 31
s. Judgment falls on Balaam. Numbers 31:8
2. Contemporary lessons about guidance may be drawn from this story:
a. Balaam is a warning beacon to any who formulate their own plans and then
try to get God to sign on the dotted line.
b. We must avoid the mistake of equating God's permission with His express
will. Balaam made that mistake with tragic consequences.
c. Motivation is an important element in guidance. Balaam was deflected from the
clear path of duty by the lure of money.
d. When God has clearly indicated His will-- and a great deal is clearly spelled out
in the Scriptures--yet we toy the temptation to pray again in the hope of
inducing God to give a different answer, we are on dangerous ground.
e. It is infantile behavior to plague God with a repeated request in the hope that He
will change His mind and approve our plan.
f. We should thank God for His restraining providence if He places roadblocks
in our way when we are acting contrary to His will.
g. Balaam desired to "die the death of the righteous", but his unrighteous lifestyle
and his love of money resulted in his being killed by the Israelites whom
he had betrayed and seduced.
D. THE CLAIM OF DUTY
While pursuing His will for your life, do not neglect the claims of simple duty.
"Do the duty that lies nearest to you which you know to be your duty. Your
second duty will already have become clearer." Thomas Carlyle
"We do not need to look beyond the obvious responsibilities of our vocation for
guidance. We should assume that its details are a daily sermon."
Martin Luther
It is our duty to do our duty. That simple fact takes care of a large area of life for which no further guidance need be sought. (pg 57)
Examples of Outstanding leaders in Israel's History:
1. Moses Exodus 3
2. Saul --- I Sam 9-10
3. David --- I Sam 16:1-13
4. Gideon --- Judges
It is a striking fact that when God has given supernatural guidance, it has seldom been asked for.
In not one instance had they any prior indication that they were to be selected for
leadership. The guidance came unsought while they were simply doing their duty
in the mundane activities incidental to their ordinary vocations. (pg 58)
E. CONDITIONS OF GUIDANCE
The Scriptures prescribe no infallible and inflexible set of rules to be followed in order to
qualify for being admitted into the mystery of the will of God. But there is an attitude of
heart and mind that is a prerequisite to guidance.
He guides:
1. The humble. Psalms 25:9 “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”
The humble who this qualify are those who are distrustful of themselves, who desire
to be taught, and who are prepared to follow the divine leading whatever the cost.
The basic attitude is submissiveness. There is no divine guidance for those not willing
to do God's will. (pg 53)
2. The surrendered will.
This implies that we are as willing to have our plans vetoed as to have them confirmed
by our Heavenly Guide. We will seek guidance in vain if we have already made
up our minds. (pg 60)
The story of an old Scotsman who went to his lawyer for advice.
After hearing the problem, the lawyer gave his opinion. The old Scot said,
"Thank you," and began to walk away.
"Wait a minute," said the lawyer. "You haven't paid my fee!"
"Your fee?" questioned the Scot.
"Yes, for my advice."
"But I'm not taking it!" replied the Scotsman.
“The man who follows his own will independently of God’s, is guilty of a kind of idolatry. Instead of adoring God’s will, he, in a certain sense, adores his own.” St. Alphonsus (1755?)
