We must understand that God’s ways are different from ours. Isaiah 55:9 says, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. This is why we most often fail to comprehend God’s plan for our lives and thus fail to appreciate him as we should.
In 2 Kings 4:1-7 we read of a widow who approached Elisha for assistance to pay her debts failing which she would lose her child in exchange for slavery. She had only a bottle of oil. Rather than giving her money which she needed, Elisha told her to pour the oil into empty containers. In righteous obedience she did. The oil continued to fill all the empty containers until none was left. Elisha told her to sell them and from the proceeds pay her debts.
God’s approach
God’s approach is not predictable. Sometimes, God even uses crises which could be personal or ancestral, also called generational curses, Psalms 79:8; Exodus 20:5. When God allowed crises in the case of the widow, she did the right thing by submitting to divine wisdom. She first turned to God’s servant for counseling and assistance in crises. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given.
Oftentimes, God’s prescription appears unrealistic and illogical to human wisdom. However, we cannot evaluate God’s wisdom with our inferior and subjective wisdom. Ecclesiastes 8:5 says, He who obeys a command will meet no harm, and the mind of the wise man will know the time and way.
Elisha asked Naaman to wash himself in the Jordan river instead of healing him directly from his leprosy. At the wedding feast in Canaan, Jesus asked them to fill empty jars with water rather than directly providing wine. Jesus asked Peter to cast his net in the shallow water instead of going to the deep waters. Jesus instructed his disciples to feed the five thousand people besides women and children with only five loaves of bread and two fish instead of providing adequate food visibly. Overwhelming positive results ensued in all these instances when they obeyed the apparent silly instructions or approaches.
Obedience
Obedience in humility to God’s instructions is what we need as children of God. We must be attentive to God and carry out his instructions because God’s ways and thoughts are different and higher than ours. We do not know the way but God knows. We are blind to things and workings in this world but God is not. We are not in control but God has always been at the helm of affairs. We do not have the manual to our lives, but God who is the creator has.
No matter how silly God’s suggested approach may be, it is recorded in Samuel 15:22 that, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. God’s checked approach is not important but the true faith and trust in him which confirms our allegiance to him through Jesus Christ. God is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, all knowing, all wise and the light of this dark world through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Forthrightness
God’s approach is only a vehicle to accessing the answer. What we must do is to be forthright with our request. This is exactly what the widow did and combined with faith, trust and obedience. She received positive results. The approach was not a bother to her. Psalms 66:18 says, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. The two blind men sitting at the roadside regained their sight because they were straight with their needs with Jesus, Matthew 20:30-34. Our focus must be on Christ, not the approach once we ask in faith and we shall receive for whoever asks, receives Matthew 7:7-8.
We must trust and obey him in all circumstances. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord always with your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding, in all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Never discount God’s instructions for your life. You rival God when you question his approach.
Prayer
Dear Lord, through your only begotten son Jesus Christ our savior, help us to acknowledge you as we ought to so we shall understand your ways and apply our hearts to it in trust and faith. Forgive us of our foolish ways in judging you by our inferior wisdom. Wash us in your precious blood and save our souls today in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
