Careful What You Ask for, You Might Just Get It

Isn’t that the point. Asking for something and expect to receive it. I would think so. But, what if I received and was not really as happy about it as I thought I would be.

This is what happened to the Israelite people with the LORD. You see, God provided manna for them to each when they were in need. They were satisfied from a consumption of sustenance perspective. They had even gotten to the point of not just consuming it, but they were making bread cakes with the manna to mix it up as opposed to just eating what was provided. But, as is the case even today, they developed a lack of contentment and began complaining about not having meat to eat.

Aren’t we that way as well. We have what is needed, a house, a car, food, work. And yet, even with all of that, we still want, a bigger/better house, a newer/more expensive car, elegant food, high paying job. We lose our contentment as we desire for things that are “better”. We had found a way to make due with what we had and yet, we continue asking for more.

Well, God heard the people and decided to give them what they ask for.

“¹⁸And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat.’” – Numbers 11:18 (ESV)

And just like that, the people would have what they were asking. The LORD was providing for them as they had requested. And doesn’t that happen for us as well. We ask the LORD and He provides, even to the tune of what we want.

But, the LORD was teaching them a lesson at the same time.

“¹⁹You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, ²⁰but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, ‘Why did we come out of Egypt?’” “33While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.– Numbers 11:19-20 & 33 (ESV)

And there it is. The LORD provides in so much bounty that it would consume them entirely. The people got what they wanted and even more. The more was not expected, but they got it anyway. The LORD provided the meat for them and in true human nature they consumed it to the point of gluttony.

Aren’t we very much the same today. We ask for things from the LORD and He provides and we simply consume without the appreciation for it. We only become gluttonous. We cannot get enough of what we ask and turn away from the LORD in the process.

I have to remember that it is not what I have that makes me who I am. It is being content that what I have is enough. It is okay and encouraged to ask for things from the LORD. He wants us to ask and even tells us to do so. But it is the why we are asking that is important to remember, not the what we are asking. I have to remember that it is about needs and not wants. I have to remember to be content in the provision of the LORD. I have to be careful asking, as I may just get it.

What are you asking for from the LORD? Are you asking out of want and find yourself gluttonous? What if you kept you asks to your needs and when provided, were thankful and generous to others with what you receive?

God Goes with Even the Obstinate

“³Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” – Exodus 33:3 (ESV)

The LORD led the people to the land He had promised them through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But, here he is telling them to go on ahead and He will hang back, because they are difficult to lead, obstinate.

As I read the words of the LORD, I see myself and the leading of my family. I have a plan to get somewhere and yet they are resistant to my plan and feel as though they know better where we are headed and how to get there and what it will look like along the way. Now, I am not saying that I have all the answers like the LORD, but in these instances, I have planned things out and, as the head of the family, should be trusted to get us there. So, I tell them to go ahead without me and I will meet them there as I am not interested in arguing with them any longer and will allow them to do it for themselves if that is what they want. The result is that they come back to me to “fix” things as they did not quite turn out the way they thought they would.

The LORD had everything planned out for the Israelite people to get to the place where he promised them. The people thought they knew better and took things into their own hands. Then they failed miserably and would come back to the LORD for Him to “fix” it. In this instance, the LORD told them to go ahead and do things their way as He was not interested in arguing with them and would simply meet them there. The LORD was not going to work with the obstinate people at this time.

But, Moses knew that they needed the LORD to go with them and protect them on their journey. So he interceded for them with the LORD. Moses asked the LORD to go with them to show them that they were indeed the chosen people and that they had found the favor of the LORD. And He did.

So, where are we landing here. Well, the LORD does love each of us on our journey to do His will. He wants us to succeed and bring glory to Him in the process. When we are resistant to His will, He will allow us to go it alone and suffer the consequences of our self action. But, as He loves us, when interceded for, He will always turn back to us and go with us. We may not know He is there, but He will go with us.

It is important for each of us to intercede for others. We are to pray to the LORD for ourselves and for others. The journey they may be taking is due to their obstinate approach to the LORD. They may be resistant to Him yet need Him for protection along the way. The LORD will be there at the request of the righteous thanks to His love for all.

“⁷Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 (ESV)

What is your approach to being lead by the LORD? Are you one of those obstinate folks, or know those that believe you know better and can get it done on your own? What if you relied on the LORD or interceded for the obstinate, the LORD will go with you when asked?

The LORD Will Do Exactly as You Ask

It is something for the LORD to provide just what and when we need. It is something also when He does so just as we ask.

“¹⁴Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” “¹⁷Then the servant ran to meet her and said, ‘Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.’ ¹⁸She said, ‘Drink, my lord.’ And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. ¹⁹When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, ‘I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.’” – Genesis 24:14 & 17-19 (ESV)

Here we see the account of Abraham’s servant finding Rebekah, the wife of Isaac. The servant was tasked with selecting a wife for Isaac from the land Abraham had left as He followed the LORD’s direction. The servant asked the LORD to make it clear to him the woman by having her complete some specific tasks. And the LORD did so.

I often ask the LORD to speak to me plainly. I am terrible at getting subtleties. I need to be bopped on the head for me to get things. I am reminded that LORD wants to provide for me. He wants to ensure that I have all that I need. It is up to me to ask for things from the heart and I should be specific. The servant of Abraham, wanting to do right by his master, asks the LORD to bop him on the head to make it clear to him that the woman to be wife of Isaac would be found.

I am not sure that we as followers of Christ ask specific enough. Yes, the LORD provides what and when we need, but we also have to let Him know what we need. When the LORD finds that what we request is in alignment with His will, He will provide and do so just as we ask.

What is your view of asking specifically? Are you reluctant so as not to put too much restraint on the LORD or yourself? What if you asked for exactly what you NEED and allowed the LORD to provide, and do so specifically, knowing that when the request aligns with His will, He will grant it as you ask?

Lost Even When in the Right Place

Reading God’s Word is so revealing. I am in Isaiah this morning as I begin a study on the word “lost”.

“⁵And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” – Isaiah 6:5 (ESV)

Here, Isaiah is describing his vision of the Lord. He is in the temple looking up at the Lord on the throne. And yet, his words indicate that he is lost.

I know that I have felt similar in certain situations. I knew exactly where I was, yet was not confident in whether or not I was or belonged there in the first place. It was not until I reached out to confess my confusion and lack of confidence that I was assured to be. Isaiah asked. Okay, it was more of a statement aloud. He made it known that he was not sure that he was supposed to be there or even belonged.

“⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” – Isaiah 6:6-7 (ESV)

Isaiah spoke out to confess. This confession was was heard and action was taken to let him know that he did indeed belong.

As noted, I have experienced this sense of being lost myself and it was not until I confessed was it confirmed that I was. I am positive that it happens on the regular in our houses of worship. There are those who come to visit, looking for something and end up leaving without confirmation that they have found it. Either it comes from us as the congregation not embracing those who are visiting or from the pulpit with the seemingly vilification of us all as sinners. More can and should be done to help others as they are likely feeling lost.

It is not a good feeling to be lost, especially when I am in the right place. I may not know exactly why I am there, but there is a reason and frankly I am looking for it. I may not have the confidence to confess, and therefor it is up to someone to draw me in with an assuring word or action, just as the seraphim from the vision of Isaiah taking action to acknowledge and assure him of his rightful place there.

What are your feelings when you are out in the world? Are lost where you are or know of those who might be? What if you called out in confession of your being lost or were the one to take action of assurance to those who might be?