WHEN GOD’S WAYS MAKE NO SENSE: BE PATIENT AND PRAY
ISAIAH 55:1-12
WE ALL HAVE IN OUR MINDS A CERTAIN WAY OR PLAN THAT OUR LIVES SHOULD FOLLOW. THERE IS AN ACCEPTED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THAT OUR LIVES SHOULD TAKE, MUCH LIKE WHAT SOLOMON STATES IN ECCLESIASTES 3 WHERE HE SAYS:
ECCLESIASTES3:1: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
THE SCHEDULE WE ANTICIPATE IS USUALLY LIKE THIS. A GOOD CHILDHOOD WITH GOOD PARENTS, DOING WELL AT SCHOOL AND GOING TO UNIVERSITY OR TRADE SCHOOL. WE MAY POSSIBLY MEET OUR FUTURE HUSBAND OR WIFE DURING THIS TIME, GETTING MARRIED AS SOON AS WE GRADUATE. WE HAVE 2.6 KIDS, I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE .6 BUT IT WAS THE AVERAGE. ALL OUR FAMILY MEMBERS MAKE DECISIONS FOR CHRIST AND ARE MATURING AS THEY GROW OLDER. THEY GROW UP AND HAVE FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN. WE BECOME GRAND-PARENTS AND GREAT GRAND-PARENTS, LIVING TO A GREAT OLD AGE WITH NO SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES AND THEN WE GO INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
UNFORTUNATELY, LIFE DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK ACCORDING TO OUR SCHEDULE. WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT DEALS WITH THE EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE SINFUL NATURE. SOMETIMES GOOD PEOPLE CAN BECOME VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTS, OR UNFAIR LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES ALL AS A RESULT OF THE SINFUL NATURE IN US.
THERE IS A STACK OF UNEXPECTED BILLS, NEW HEALTH CONCERNS, TROUBLING MARRIAGE TENSIONS, UNCONTROLLABLE SEXUAL URGES THAT BRING HIDDEN SHAME, A LEVEL OF LISTLESSNESS THAT BORDERS ON DEPRESSION, UNFORSEEN DEATH, AND A HOST OF OTHERS THAT CAN LEAVE US SHAKING OUR HEADS AND ASKING WHERE IS GOD. WHY DID HE NOT HELP US WHEN WE PRAYED TO HIM?
WE HAVE AN UNWRITTEN RULE IN OUR PRAYERTIME, AND THAT RULE IS THAT IF WE ASK FOR A REQUEST, AND CONTINUE TO ASK FOR THE REQUEST, THAT GOD WILL EVENTUALLY GRANT THAT REQUEST.
JOHN 14:13-14:
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
THERE ARE OTHER PASSAGES IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS THAT SAY THE SAME THING, AND SO WE MISTAKENLY THINK THAT IF WE HAVE PEOPLE PRAYING WITH US ABOUT A CERTAIN SITUATION THAT GOD IS GOING TO DO WHAT WE WANT IN THAT SITUATION.
THERE IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT WE OFTEN LEAVE OUT AND THAT IS THE PHRASE “THAT THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON.” WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS AN ANSWER THAT WORKS THE WAY WE WANT WITH NO CONCERN ABOUT THE GLORY BEING GIVEN TO GOD.
CONSIDER THESE EXAMPLES:
GOD DOESN’T WANT ME TO PUT UP WITH MY HUSBAND. THE MAN DOESN’T KNOW THAT I EXIST. I FEEL LIKE A NOBODY. GOD LOVES ME TOO MUCH TO EVER WANT ME TO HURT LIKE THIS. SO WITH HIS BLESSING, I INTEND TO MAKE WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS I MUST TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF AND HAVE A SATISFYING RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER MAN, NOT THE ONE I’M STUCK WITH NOW.
OR THIS SITUATION?
OUR MISSION DESPERATELY NEEDS FUNDS TO REPAIR OUR FALLING APART FACILITY FOR BURNED-OUT MISSIONARIES TO COME AND REST FOR AWHILE. IF WE DON’T RECEIVE WHAT WE NEED, WE’LL HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN OUR MINISTRY. WE KNOW WE’RE DOING GOD’S WORK AND WHAT HE HAS CALLED US TO DO. SURELY HE’LL SUPPLY THE NECESSARY MONEY.
SOMETIMES THE ANSWERS SEEM CLEARER THAN OTHERS. DOESN’T GOD WANT THIS WOMAN TO BE HAPPY? DOESN’T HE WANT THAT MINISTRY TO CONTINUE?
A WELL-KNOWN CHRISTIAN LEADER WAS ONCE ASKED TO SHARE HIS SECRET OF PARENTING. ALL THREE OF HIS CHILDREN WERE LEADING EXEMPLARY LIVES: SUCCESSFUL, MORAL, AND GODLY. “FROM THE DAY WE KNEW WE WERE PREGNANT, MY WIFE AND I WERE ON OUR KNEES EVERY NIGHT, HOLDING HANDS AND PRAYING FOR GOD’S BLESSING ON EACH CHILD.
WITH HIS WIFE A GOOD FRIEND PRAYED FERVENTLY AND CONTINUOUSLY FOR HIS FOUR CHILDREN. ONE IS A CHRISTIAN. THREE ARE NOT. TWO HAVE SPENT TIME IN JAIL. WHAT WENT WRONG?
PERHAPS THEY DIDN’T PRAY HOLDING HANDS OR TOGETHER ON THEIR KNEES. WAS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY MISSED IN THE POUTINE THAT LEAD TO THE PROBLEMS THEY HAD.
A COUPLE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE PREGNANT. THEY’RE PRAYER EACH DAY WAS: “I DON’T CARE IF IT IS A BOY OR A GIRL, AS LONG AS IT IS HEALTHY.”
ALL THESE STATEMENTS HAVE A FOUNDATIONAL FLAW IN THEM. WE TRY TO SHAPE GOD INTO WHO WE WANT HIM TO BE. WE BELIEVE HIM TO BE SOVEREIGN IN OUR LIVES, AS LONG AS WE CAN MANAGE HIS DIVINE POWER INTO WHAT WE WANT OUR LIVES TO BE.
THE WOMAN WITH THE ABUSIVE HUSBAND WAS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING SHE COULD DO TO CHANGE HER SITUATION. WHO IS IN CONTROL?
THE MINISTRY TEAM NEEDED MONEY TO CONTINUE THEIR MINISTRY TO MISSIONARIES. WHO’S MINISTRY WAS IT IN THE FIRST PLACE? WHO WAS IN CONTROL.
PARENTS WANTED THEIR FAMILY TO TURN OUT ALL RIGHT. WHO WERE THEY WATCHING? WHO WAS IN CONTROL?
THE PREGNANT COUPLE WANTED A HEALTHY BABY, BUT WHAT IF IT WASN’T. WOULD THEY LOVE IT LESS? WHO IS IN CONTROL?
WE BECOME BELIEVERS IN A FALSE GOSPEL. WE DISTORT GOD’S STORY INTO A SYSTEM, A FORMULA FOR SATISFYING US, WITH LITTLE THOUGHT GIVEN AS TO WHAT WOULD GLORIFY GOD. WE WATCH THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS, THINKING THAT IF WE CAN DO THE SAME THAT GOD IS GOING TO BLESS US IN THE SAME WAY. FOLLOW THE RIGHT ROUTINE AND EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT.
G.K. CHESTERTON SAYS:
“WE HAVE BECOME CHESS PLAYERS, NOT POETS. WE MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES ON THE CHESS BOARD OF LIFE, AND GOD RESPONDS BY LETTING US WIN THE MATCH.”
SO THE QUESTION REMAINS WHO IS IN CONTROL?
THIS WAS NOT THE MESSAGE OF PAUL TO THE GALATIANS:
GALATIANS 1:6-7:
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
FALSE TEACHERS WERE PREACHING A FALSE DOCTRINE TO THE GALATIAN CHURCH AND MANY PEOPLE WERE FOLLOWING IT. THE FALSE GOSPEL IS EASY BECAUSE IT’S A GOSPEL WE WANT TO HEAR. IT TICKLES OUR EARS, AND SOUNDS RIGHT. GOD THOUGH IS NEVER SOVEREIGN IN A FALSE GOSPEL WE ARE.
MOSES HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHEN HE WAS ON MOUNT SINAI RECEIVING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THE PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO WAIT FOR GOD. THERE SOLUTION WAS TO MAKE THEIR OWN GOLDEN CALF. WHO WAS IN CONTROL?
ISAIAH GIVES US SOME INSTRUCTION ON WHAT TO DO WHEN GOD’S WAYS DON’T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE. HE POINTS OUT IN CHAPTER 40:
ISAIAH 40:12-14:
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? 14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?
HERE AS HE DOES WITH JOB GOD ASKS A SERIES OF QUESTIONS TO SHOW HOW ILL-EQUIPPED WE ARE TO QUESTION HIS SOVEREIGNTY.
THE FALSE GOSPEL TEACHES US TO SING CHORUSES LIKE “EVERY DAY WITH JESUS IS SWEETER THAN THE DAY BEFORE.” WE EXPECT PLEASANT DAYS AHEAD. BUT LIFE MAY SOON TEACH US TO SING “EVERY DAY WITH JESUS, IS HARDER THAN THE DAY BEFORE.”
THIS FALSE GOSPEL IS A FORM OF PROSPERITY GOSPEL, OR NAME IT AND CLAIM IT GOSPEL. IT POINTS THE BLAME BACK ON THE INDIVIDUAL. IF WHAT YOU PRAY FOR DOESN’T COME TRUE, THEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU, SOME SIN IN YOUR LIFE.
ISAIAH TEACHES US IN CHAPTER 55 WORDS OF COMFORT AND HELP WHEN WE ARE CHALLENGED BY THE UNCERTAINTIES OF LIFE. HE WANTS US TO REMEMBER THAT GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL AND IS WORKING HIS PLAN OUT IN OUR LIVES. WE DON’T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HIS PLAN, BUT BE CONFIDENT IN THE FACT THAT HE IS IN CONTROL.
THIS PORTION OF ISAIAH IS AN ENCOURAGING PART OF THE BOOK. AFTER CHAPTER 40 ISAIAH IS WRITING ABOUT GOD’S RENEWED RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL AND HOW GOOD IT CAN BE IF THEY TRUST IN HIM.
VERSES 1 AND 3 ARE VERSE OF DIRECTION:
ISAIAH 55:1-3:
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
THIS IS A CALL TO THOSE WHO ARE SEARCHING AND WANT TO FIND A WAY TO OVERCOME. GOD IS INVITING PEOPLE TO COME TO HIM IN THEIR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND LEAVE THEIR BURDENS ON HIM.
HE IS TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO INVEST IN THINGS THAT WILL NOT SATISFY THEIR HEARTS DESIRE. ISAIAH TELLS US TO LISTEN TO THE LORD AND TRUST HIM, TO LEAD US TO WHAT IS GOOD TO EAT. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST LISTEN TO HIS WORDS. HE WANTS US TO REALLY CONTEMPLATE HIS LEADING AND FOLLOW HIM.
HE REMINDS US THAT GOG ID GOD AND NOT US. WE CANNOT KNOW OR CONCEIVE OF HIS PLAN FOR US. WHEN I THINK OF WHAT WE KNOW OF HIS CREATION, SPEAKING THE UNIVERSE IN PLACE, THE UNKNOWN DEPTHS OF THE SEA AND SPACE, HOW CAN A FINITE MIND COMPREHEND THE INFINATE NATURE OF GOD.
ISAIAH SPEAKS TO THIS IN VERSES 8-9:
ISAIAH 55:8-9:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
WE ARE PEOPLE OF CONTROL. I’VE LEARNED THIS ON MANY OCCASIONS OVER THE SUMMER. WHEN I TRIED TO FIND WAYS TO OVERCOME MY OBSTACLES I FOUND MYSELF GETTING FURTHER STRESSED OUT.
THE KEY AS TO HOW TO PROCEED WHEN GOD’S WAYS MAKE NO SENSE IS TO ALLOW HIM TO BE SOVEREIGN AND IN CONTROL. THIS IS DIFFICULT AS LARRY CRABB POINTS OUT:
“WE’VE ALL COME UP WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW GOD THINKS AND ACTS THAT FITS COMFORTABLY WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW A LOVING GOD SHOULD THINK AND ACT.”
WE SUFFER FROM SCROOGE MCDUCK SYNDROME. THE COMIC BOOK CHARACTER SCROOGE MCDUCK LOVED TO COUNT HIS MONEY. HE WOULD COUNT IT AGAIN AND AGAIN, EACH TIME EXPECTING THERE TO BE MORE AND ANGRY WHEN THERE WAS NOT.
WE PRAY TO GOD LIKE SCROOGE MCDUCK. WE COUNT OUR BLESSINGS WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THERE WILL BE MORE BLESSINGS TO COME. THEN, WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS WE ASK WHERE IS GOD?
WHEN GOD’S WAYS MAKE NO SENSE TO US WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THREE CHOICES. WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF THESE CHOICES IN SCRIPTURE:
1. RESIST AND RUN
2. DISTORT AND DENY
3. TREMBLE AND TRUST
I LEAVE THEM WITH YOU TO CONSIDER AND IN TWO WEEKS WE SHALL LOOK AT THEM AND SEE WHERE WE ACTUALLY FIT IN.
The New International Version. (2011). (Ec 3:1). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The New International Version. (2011). (Jn 14:13–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The New International Version. (2011). (Ga 1:6–7). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The New International Version. (2011). (Is 40:12–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The New International Version. (2011). (Is 55:1–3). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The New International Version. (2011). (Is 55:8–9). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
