Encouraged to trust and obey . . .

Numbers 24; Psalms 66–67; Isaiah 14; 1 Peter 2

Another couple and ourselves, sometimes joined with more parents, get together two times a month to pray for our adult children. Lately we have been studying and discussing what the Bible says about no answers. The psalmist speaks of one that is extremely important.

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! (Psalm 66:16–20)

It is easy to avoid this issue. Instead of dealing with my own sin, I’ve Sometimes felt that God simply could not overcome human resistance in those I prayed for, but the Bible is clear on that excuse:

The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.” This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? (Isaiah 14:24–27)

God can do anything He wants to do!

Yet the most important part of answered prayer is living as God tells me to live. Obedience does not earn it, but disobedience can block it. For instance, some people I pray for have no respect for God or my faith, but I am not supposed to give them any reason for it . . .

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:9–12)

This passage goes on and applies to me right now in my attitude toward government rules and regulations during this pandemic. Even if I don’t like social distancing and staying home, the Bible says this:

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:13–17)

The reasons? God uses humble obedience. He also can accomplish His purposes through calamity, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the greatest example. Who am I to say that God is not able to work through political leaders, even if they seem out of sync with what the world wants? Jesus Christ suffered for me, leaving me an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:20–23)

APPLY: Putting this all together, God is sovereign, even in disasters. If I want my prayers answered, I must trust Him — even in disasters. He can do whatever He purposes to do. Obedience expresses my faith in Him. Disobedience dishonors Him and expresses the idea that I know better than God. This is rebellion and cherishes my own ideas above His — and if I do that, I am not going to have any prayers answered. The big picture is trusting the will of God even without knowing exactly what He has in mind — and keeping my own life free from sin and doubt as I do what He tells me. He says others will see it and glorify Him when He comes to visit their hearts and minds.