Giving God the Glory when He says no.
There is our will and there is God’s will. When our will aligns with His it is a beautiful thing. Jesus says in John 14:13
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name (in His will!) that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son”
But what happens when what we thought was God’s will doesn’t happen? We pray for it, but we hear, no?
Do we revaluate what we were praying for, or do we tell God He is wrong? That can be an emotional time.
We can be led not just to yell at God but to also not follow His commands because we think He is wrong.
Let’s look at a few examples.
Moses smiting the rock. In numbers 20:8 God commands Moses to speak to a rock to make water come out. Previously He smote a rock as God commanded and it happened. This time he smote the rock again and water came out but that wasn’t Gods word. Moses was angry with the Israelites so he acted in anger. Moses was told that he would not bring them to Israel.
Numbers 20:12 “And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron. Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them”
This verse shows that thinking of self and not sanctifying or Glorifying God. Psalm 31 is a great chapter on begging for God and His help but giving Him Glory nonetheless.
After all this Moses still followed God’s commands and Israel was given many victories for God’s Glory inspite knowing Moses couldn’t go to the promise land.
I can’t find if Moses asked God to change His mind but I’m sure in his life he prayed for God to forgive him and allow him to go into the promise land. Even though God doesn’t give us what we think we want, He is all we even need, Give God the Glory!
Jacob and Joseph.
God spoke to Jacob Multiple times in his life. He was a friend of God! God blessed him so much and gave him many kids. His favorite was Joseph. When Joseph was sold by his brothers, they told Jacob that Joseph was killed by a wild animal.
Why didn’t God tell Jacob that Joseph was okay and being used by God to save the world? God knew Jacob’s heart and that he would run to Egypt to save him. God decided not to do that, until about 22 years later He tells him in Genesis 46:2-4
“And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. and he said here I am.
3″ and he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt for I will there make of thee a great nation:
4″ I will go down with thee into Egypt: and I will also surely bring thee up again, and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes”
God knows best, even if He says no and it hurts.
Give God the glory.
Paul’s thorn.
Paul’s being called to give God Glory despite hard times is shown in the beginning of His Christian life. Jesus shows up to a believer to tell him to go to Paul and tell him in Acts 9:15-16
“… Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 “For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Paul leads many dangerous situations but still goes through them and continues in Jesus name!
I enjoy seeing Paul summarize in the 2nd Corinthians 11:24-28
24″ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one”
25″ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep”
26″ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren:
27″ In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness”
28″ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches”
All these terrible things and he still goes on. Why? Because he met Jesus!
Here is an encouraging verse.
When Paul was preaching in Jerusalem and the Jews wanted to kill him, he was put into prison for his safety. Then in Acts 23:11 it says, “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, be of good cheer Paul: For as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so much thou bear witness also at Rome.”
It was because he met Jesus
Jesus saved and changed him
Jesus strengthen and encouraged him.
Even when the answer to your prayer is no, Give God the Glory!
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Jordan Grenon a son of God through Christ Jesus
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